Centre will create anti-Naxal force
The Centre has decided to create anti-Naxal ‘’special forces’’ for left-wing extremism affected states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa on the lines of Andhra’s Greyhounds. A brigadier- level officer of the Army, posted as security adviser in the Union home ministry’s Naxal management division, will monitor the setting up of the special forces under the Central scheme.
Personnel from state police forces will be sent on deputation to the special forces to undergo intensive training to launch ‘’hot pursuits’’ across state borders and conduct ‘’swift operations’’ in remote forest areas.
The scheme funded and approved by the central government is aimed at arming the state forces with the requisite ‘’skill set’’ to combat the growing threat from the CPI (Maoist) which recently inflicted the most barbaric and brutal injuries on CRPF personnel deployed in Jharkhand’s Latehar district.
The “Greyhounds” force, a special police unit in Andhra Pradesh, is serving as the role model in the government’s venture.
Top government sources said the specialised anti-Naxal force had successfully crushed the Maoists in the southern state through their guerilla warfare techniques and continues to have the most successful operational tactics for fighting the Naxal menace.
The prime objectives of the new special task forces includes making them capable of staying and operating in interior and inhospitable terrains and jungles for at least one week at a stretch and reaching inaccessible, remote forest areas throughout the state in the shortest possible time.
These units will also have to be equipped with the best training facilities.
The MHA will give funds to the four states to create and upgrade infrastructure, weaponry and equipment for the ‘’special forces’’ under the existing Scheme for Special Infrastructure (SIS).
The existing infrastructure of Greyhounds in Andhra Pradesh will also be upgraded under this scheme. The proposed outlay during the 12th Plan is `280 crore by the central government.
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