Govt likely to rope in two more central forces against naxals

The proposal which had been pending for some time received a push in the wake of widespread Naxal violence during the Lok Sabha polls,when left-wing extremists used rocket launchers for the first time. Sources said a meeting was recently held in the ministry to chalk out a new strategy which also included possibility of increasing more personnel on the ground.

The CRPF,which has been fighting the naxals along with state police forces,did not have any more men to offer till its newly created 10,000 personnel strong special force,Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) – completed recruitment and training.

The Home Ministry had then approached other paramilitary forces to know whether they could give additional personnel to take on the Naxals and the BSF and ITBP replied in the affirmative.

“The combination of CRPF and BSF or even the ITBP will undertake special operations in naxal-hit areas. There would be a joint command centre that would be set up if the proposal gets the final nod,” sources said. The CRPF’s inability to augment its strength in naxal- infested areas at present is primarily due to the fact that over 77 battalions (over 77,000 personnel) of the force’s total operational battalions (181) are posted in Jammu and Kashmir.

Another 44 battalions,which amount to 24 per cent of the total operational battalions,are posted in insurgency-hit North-eastern states and 19 per cent of the force is posted in Naxal-hit areas.

Sources said there were many locational drawbacks and strategic shortcomings as the CRPF now solely depends on state governments for direction and intelligence to fight the Naxals. They said the effort is to increase the strength on the ground and work out any new cooperation model with state police forces and local intelligence networks.

Incidentally,Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had said the new government will respond to any threat to security,public order and communal harmony “with speed and decisiveness”. Sources said the new set-up is part of the minister’s 100-day programme which aims to strengthen the forces.