The force, which has deployed more than 70,000 troops for anti-Naxal operations in various States, is now planning a large offensive in the dense forests of Abujmad, a region extending from South Bastar (Dantewada) in Chhattisgarh to Gadchiroli in Maharashtra. This region has been beyond the reach of local police and administration for years, a reason why the Naxals flourished in the area.
Sources said the CRPF wants the headquarters of National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) to be shifted to Jagdalpur district to gather technical intelligence about the Naxals. The NTRO is operating large UAVs and the latest aerial machines from Israel has been quite successful in the area.
Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh and thetri-junction of State's border with Maharashtra, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh is notorious for Naxal ambushes.
The NTRO facility in this district will also help in gathering vital surveillance the jungle terrain and Maoist hideouts.
The force also wants to shift the Mi-17 helicopters base from State capital Raipur to Jagdalpur as the choppers will be able to carry out sorties quicker in these areas for casualty evacuation and troop reinforcement.
The Indian Air Force has already restructured the movement of the transport helicopters and the CRPF wants the BSF to follow suit. The airwing of the BSF operates Mi17 helicopters in the Naxal-affected States, including Chhattisgarh.
The new plans are now awaiting the approval of the Union Home Ministry. Home Minister P Chidambaram was briefed recently about the CRPF's plans at an operations conference of the paramilitary.
Among its larger plans in the anti-Naxal combat theatre, the CRPF also wants a 700-acre land in Abujmad area from the State Government to create a jungle warfare college to train its troops and CoBRA commandoes.
The force has also begun a new operational exercise in Dantewada jungles after they were trained in stealth techniques by the elite trainers of the National Security Guard.
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