Undeterred by the Maoist onslaught on the security forces, a large number of CRPF personnel have sought induction into specialised anti-Naxal wing, Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA).
As many as 1,800 nominations have been received by the CRPF directorate for induction into CoBRA battalions. However, 1,350 personnel have sought delay in commencement of conversion training apparently due to preoccupation in the conduct of the ongoing parliamentary polls.
With the paramilitary getting a satisfactory response from the force’s members wishing to join the elite anti-Naxal force, the directorate has issued instructions to the Sector Inspector General to nominate desired number of personnel for induction into CoBRA and expeditiously relieve the selected personnel.
To improve its operational efficiency and place its personnel where the thrust is required, CoBRA has decided to keep shifting its tactical headquarters to different locations. A senior CoBRA official also raised the issue of procurement of only 47 satellite phones against authorisation of 180 such devices. To this, Director General of CRPF Dilip Trivedi asked for the status of utilisation of the available satellite phones before releasing more of them.
The force has also sought additional authorisation of protective eye wears. With good quality eye masks already available in the local market, the directorate has asked the Sector IGs to procure them locally within their financial competence.
Meanwhile, the Intelligence wing of CRPF has made significant progress as a result of which the CRPF is at the third position in terms of sharing inputs at the Multi-Agency Centre. Officials said the nature of actionable inputs has also improved.
The improved quality of inputs have resulted in increased apprehension, surrender and killing of Naxals. large number of arms and huge quantity of explosives has been recovered besides two arms manufacturing units have been busted in Jharkhand during the last one year.