Bokaro, April 25: The 26th battalion of CRPF posted at Bokaro, Dhanbad and Giridih has a new enemy to fight — mosquitoes.

Headed by commandant V.S. Sharma, who recently received a bravery award, the forces are battling mosquito menace on a war footing.

Besides the sophisticated weapons acquired by the Maoists, the threat of malaria has become another cause of concern among the CRPF ranks.

The forces are finding it difficult to battle the menace of mosquitoes, especially at Jhumra hills, Swang, Rehawan, Upper Ghat (Bokaro), Tundi (Dhanbad), Tisri, Parasnath and Nimiaghaat (Girdih), where the company is presently posted.

The area is believed to be a Maoist stronghold and the CRPF have to be alert round-the-clock to ward off possible attacks.

CRPF sources said the forces are not as worried about the red brigade as they are about the silent enemies, the mosquitoes.

Though the CRPF cops are provided with medicated mosquito nets and medicines, they cannot avoid the mosquito bites while patrolling in dense forests.

Though the civil surgeons of the districts concerned have provided doctors and medical staff with sufficient quantity of medicines for treating cops, more than 12 CRPF personnel have been treated for malaria at Bokaro General Hospital in the last seven months. Around 12 others were administered treatment at local medical camps.

Half of the company’s personnel hail from north-eastern states, which are also malaria-affected.

The second in command of the company, Himanshu, said adequate measures like cleanliness drives in areas where the personnel are posted, regular use of bleaching powder and mosquito nets have not proved to be of much use.

He termed the malaria menace “as part of the game in day-to-day life”.

The company commandant said his battalion’s prime target was to free the area from Maoists, who have acquired deadly weapons and explosives.

Of late, the drive against Naxalites have yielded results in Parasnath hills, Jhumra, Upper Ghat area of Nawadih block, added the commandant.