As many as three additional battalions of para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) would be deployed in insurgency-riddled Bijapur, Sukma and Dantewada in Bastar region to intensify operations against the rebels, officials said on Tuesday.
Para-military troopers would be put in jungle pockets of Jagargunda, Bhejji, Bhadrakali and Gangalur areas for operations. Paramilitary forces and district force are conducting anti-Naxal operations in Bastar for several years now.
About 45,000 troopers of CRPF and Border Security Force (BSF) are already deployed in Bastar which is hit by leftist militancy since late 1980s. Bastar region is spread out in about 40,000 sq km areas and is made up of seven districts.
Now, with additional force of three CRPF battalions would soon arrive at Bastar headquarters, Jagdalpur, in the next phase. These forces would be equipped with lMG, mortar and M-97 weapons. For now, a new company of CRPF has established a camp at Jheeram. Police are preparing for breakthrough operations against the Naxals.
A blueprint for the targeted areas was formed during a high profile meeting convened at District Headquarters. Special Task Force, District Reserve Group, CRPF, BSF, Andhra Pradesh’s elite Greyhound Force and STF from Odisha would be jointly conducting a major operation in Kanker and Bijapur.
Five MIG helicopters of Air Force would be reserved to back up forces in case reinforcement required. Intelligence reports suggest that the top Naxal leaders have started advancing towards bordering areas of Odisha and Malkangiri from jungles of Bastar after reports that Chhattisgarh government is gearing up for a fresh major offensive.