The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has stated that the Chhattisgarh police forces are well-equipped and a Bastar package for police was introduced in 2015.
There is complete coordination between Central and State forces. In fact, year 2016 has been the most successful year in anti-lWE operation, the Ministry informed in a statement.
As compared to an average of 30 Naxals killed every year, 135 Naxals were neutralized in 2016 which is three times the number of police personnel killed.
Even in 2017, 32 Naxals have been killed so far which is more than the average annual killings of Naxals before 2015.
The Government of India policy has been very helpful and has substantially brought down the violence figures in the State. There has been 7% decline in overall violent incidents since 2013. The lWE cadres are in fact in retreat and resorting to desperate attacks, it stated.
A Bastar battalion has been sanctioned recently with a strength of around 750 to be recruited from the local tribals. Similarly, 10 special India Reserve Battalions (SIRB) and 56 India Reserve Battalions are being raised in the lWE areas.
A total of 58 Mine Protected Vehicles (MPVs) are available in Chhattisgarh to the CAPFs and 30 are under process for procurement through the Ordnance Factories Board (OFB). A total of 42 bullet proof vehicles are also available and 210 bullet protected vehicles (BPVs) are under process for procurement.
On the development front, various initiatives have been taken recently such as sanction of a 5,412 km road project at a cost of RRs11,725 cr, inclusion of all 35 worst-affected lWE districts in the skill development programme, providing Navodaya and Kendriya Vidyalayas, banks, ATMs and post offices in these districts.
On the health front, the flagship NHRM programme is followed up by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on a constant basis and a super speciality hospital has been approved recently at Jagdalpur by way of upgradation of Jadgalpur Medical College.
The next of kin of the martyred currently get around Rs 84 lakh as assistance, it stated.