Battle on

Jamshedpur, Aug. 30: Jharkhand’s security apparatus is all set to get strengthened with the deployment of an additional battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and one more unit of Cobra to take on Maoists.

The CRPF battalion will be posted in Naxalite-hit Latehar and Palamau districts.

CRPF DIG Alok Raj told The Telegraph that the additional battalion was expected to arrive in the state in about a month. The jawans are currently being trained.

At present, 12 battalions of CRPF jawans are deputed in Jharkhand. Every battalion has seven companies, each comprising 120 jawans.

“With the addition of one more unit, the state will now have adequate number of security personnel to take on Maoists,” CRPF inspector-general (operations) M.P. Nathanael told The Telegraph

He said the new battalion would work in close association with the state police.

“Besides being involved in anti-insurgency operations in Naxalite strongholds, the CRPF jawans also take part in community policing in villages where the rebels hold considerable influence. Community policing has become a crucial part of the anti-rebel offensive. Once the jawans start mingling with villagers in a Naxalite stronghold, it is bound to have a positive impact. But for this, we need adequate number of forces,” Nathanael added.

However, he ruled out any plan to deploy an additional CRPF company in West Singhbhum.

Speaking about the additional unit of Cobra — a CRPF force raised specially to fight the rebels — Nathanael said at present, they were using the services of only one battalion of the specialised unit. “It will take another six months for the second battalion of Cobra to be inducted in the state,” said the IG (operations).

He added that the troopers of the new unit were being trained in Silchar and other centres.

Apart from the army, Cobra is the only other force in the country that can take on Maoist guerrillas.

In June this year, the state had sought more CRPF battalions from the Centre to combat the Naxalites.

Landmine detected

CRPF jawans recovered a landmine at a village in Ghurabandha in Ghatshila sub-division this morning. A bomb disposal squad has left for the spot for defusing the IED.