Specific inputs with the Centre suggest Maoists are actively video-graphing helicopters during landing and take-off in Naxal-hit areas with an intention to attack them.
latest intelligence reports indicated incidents of video-graphing Kistaram, Golapalli and Chintalnar in Sukma and Parmer in Bijapur districts of Chhattisgarh. Following the inputs, the Union Home Ministry has advised the Naxal-affected States to keep an area of about 2 km around the helipads as a safe zone and to ensure that the site is sanitised by the ground troops effectively.
The Ministry has shot off the letter after a brazen incident was reported when an Indian Air Force helicopter (MI 17) — while attempting to land at Timlewada camp of Chhattisgarh Armed Police under Chintagufa police station — was fired upon by the cadre of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), forcing the pilot to land at an undesignated place on January 18 this year.
The chopper was requisitioned to retrieve two injured State police personnel who were hit by the ultras during an anti-Naxal operation in the area. Six IAF personnel including two pilots, two Garuda commandoes and two technicians had reportedly left the chopper along with a loaded light Machine Gun and an injured constable of the police wireless.
The 150 battalion of the CRPF and 201 CoBRA battalion played a crucial role in rescue of the injured State police personnel including the wireless operator and located the grounded chopper. The IAF team took cover inside the 150 battalion camp.
A senior CRPF official said the Maoists want to demoralise the security forces by targeting the choppers and restrain them from using air logistics. Attack on high-value targets like choppers also leads to maximum media coverage.
The recent Home Ministry communication was sent to Principal Secretaries (Home) and Directors General of Police of Naxal-affected States including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The advisory was also sent to Nodal Officers (Naxal matters) of these States and Directors General of Central Reserve Police Force and Border Security Force and Director (Air) of Defence Ministry, PK Gupta.