Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Govt plans redeployment of anti-naxal forces

July 01, 2010 21:50 IST

In the wake of repeated attacks by Maoists on the Central Reserve Police Force, the government is working out a plan for the redeployment of paramilitary forces engaged in anti-Naxal operations in states.

A plan is being worked out for reconfiguration, redeployment and strengthening of the paramilitary forces in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal phasewise in consultation with the state governments. "It has become necessary to review the deployment of forces and a suitable decision will be taken according to the operational requirement and developmental reasons," a Home Ministry official said. However, no central forces deployed in a particular state will be moved out from that state.

According to the plan, which will be implemented first in Chhattisgarh where CRPF has faced maximum casualties in the recent past, the distances of troop posts will be reduced and in some cases the number of personnel will be increased while in other cases the posts will be relocated.

After Chhattisgarh, the plan will be implemented in Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal. Home Minister P Chidambaram had yesterday said that "relocation and reconfiguration" of paramilitary forces in Chhattisgarh may be required as some of them were not operationally viable. "These deployments have been made in 2007 and 2008. So, I have asked the Chhattisgarh government to examine the deployments in 2010," he had said.

© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.