With a view to maintain law and order and peace during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Maharashtra government on Wednesday sought 20 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), Home Minister Anil Deshmukh announced here. The Corona pandemic and resultant lockdown have seen the police forces stretched as they work in extremely challenging conditions for long hours of the day or night, the minister said.

"Ramzan Eid is also round the corner...We do not want the police to be overburdened any more than they already are," Deshmukh said on the move. While 32 companies of Central Reserve Police Forces are already deployed in the state and working in tandem with the Maharashtra Police, the additional CAPF forces have been sought to give the latter some rest.