The IAF had last year asked the Union home ministry for adequate security cover by paramilitary forces on the ground and more infrastructure support for the non-combat support role of IAF helicopters in anti-Naxal operations in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. The IAF had wanted a secure environment for its personnel to operate while manning these helicopters. It had wanted sanitisation of the air fields in the Naxal-infested areas to be conducted by the paramilitary forces so that the IAF personnel and helicopters are not rendered vulnerable to Naxal attacks. The IAF had also wanted more infrastructure support for its helicopters to operate to the Naxal-infested areas in the form of increased tarmac space and hangars for its helicopters. The IAF had made the request after it increased the number of Mi-17 helicopters being deployed for the purpose from four helicopters to six. The IAF helicopters are currently engaging in non-combat support roles, such as casualty-evacuation and transport of paramilitary forces in support of the ground paramilitary forces engaged in anti-Naxal operations.
The IAF had earlier obtained — from the ministry of defence — the right to fire back in self-defence for its choppers if attacked by Naxalites. But the IAF fears there will be collateral damage if it fires back in self-defence. This is also not the first instance of such an attack by Naxalites. An IAF helicopter was attacked in 2008 by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh as well. But several questions remain unanswered over the current incident. Were the IAF special forces — the Garuds — present in the copter to guard it and if not, why was this not ensured?
Also the IAF has procured new armed Mi-17 V5 Russian-manufactured helicopters that can defend itself formidably against Naxalites if attacked. But the Mi-17 chopper in the case was the older one in use with the IAF. Why were the new copters not deployed to fly over such dangerous Naxal-infested areas?
This incident is likely to spark a re-think in the IAF. It is becoming increasingly clear that the “Garuds” need to protect the choppers and only the modern Mi-17 V5 helicopters need to be operated by the IAF for such missions.