In its bid to supplement security action, the CRPF has gone on an overdrive to wean away alienated tribals from Naxals’ clutches by undertaking a number of projects under its civic action programmes.
From January to March this year, the paramilitary has spent over Rs 3.26 crore. It has so far organised pre-recruitment training for 15 days to 5,582 potential candidates in 26 “severely” affected districts in seven States. It has also organised football tournaments in the Naxal hotbed — Bastar, Bijapur, Kondagaon and Naraynpur of Chhattisgarh.
Apart from creating goodwill among the tribals inhabiting the Naxal-affected areas, the paramilitary also strives to strengthen its intelligence network by bringing the public closer to the administration and making inroads into the otherwise alienated life of people, in such areas through such programmes. As a result, the paramilitary has improved its operational efficiency against the Naxals. In April, the CRPF killed 12 ultras, apprehended 59 and led to surrender of four. The force also recovered 49 arms, 348 rounds of ammunition. However, the achievements came with martyrdom of two CRPF personnel and injury to six jawans.
Achievements against Naxals in March included liquidation of 10 ultras in an encounter on March 13 at Saksari in Gumla district of Jharkhand besides apprehension of 111 extremists. Two Naxals surrendered but the ultras also inflicted injuries to two paramilitary personnel during operations. The force also recovered 158 arms and 322 rounds of ammunition. Inter-group clashes on March 28 in Chatra between Naxals also led to recovery of bodies of 10 ultras, including one regional commander of Bihar Regional panel and Secretary Madhya Zonal Committee.
likewise, the CRPF killed four Naxals in February and apprehension of 123 extremists with injury to just one of its men. In January, the CRPF apprehended 91 Naxals without inflicting any casualties on the ultras. The CRPF, however, sustained 10 casualties and injury to 23 personnel during an operation at Barwadih in latehar district of Jharkhand. The Naxals had planted IED inside the stomach of a killed jawan, leading to casualty of 3 other men.
Director General of CRPF Pranay Sahay has asked the field commanders to continuously revisit tactics and strategies against the Maoists.
Buoyed by the successes against the Maoists, Sahay has told the field commanders that it is the right time to strike at the Maoist with full potential. “I exhort you and your troops to take full advantage of the situation and conduct more and more planned operations so that the Naxals are not able to regroup,” the DG told the commanders of various Naxal-affected States.