CRPF reworks strategy to defuse IED threat

NEW DELHI: More security force personnel were killed in IED blasts in the Maoist zone than by bullets, reveal official figures. So, the CRPF has decided to re-orient its combat strategy to counter IEDs, used effectively by Maoists to inflict heavy damage on security forces.

"Though the CRPF has superior firepower and fighting skills, IEDs planted by the rebels in the Maoist zone sometimes pose a lethal surprise. We have lost our men while detecting or defusing IEDs and also to undetected IEDs," said a senior CRPF officer after a recently-concluded operations conference.

Maoists prefer Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) to bullets as explosives required to make them are easily available. "The Maoists operate in areas rich in minerals and mines. Leakage of explosives used in mining activities land up with Maoists," said CRPF director-general Dilip Trivedi.

The CRPF has modern equipment to tackle IEDs, its experience has been akin to various security forces across the world grappling with landmines. Lack of proper knowledge about IEDs has often resulted in casualties for security forces. So, the CRPF will focus on trained personnel and dogs to combat the IED threat.

The CRPF has zeroed in on a two-pronged strategy: first to cut off supply routes of explosives to Maoists. Second, it intends to ramp up training of personnel at their IED Management School (IMS) in Pune and to train dogs, especially, Belgian Malinois with proven expertise in sniffing out IEDs.

CRPF chief Trivedi said, "For effective result in field operations, we have brought our IED school and dog training school near Bangalore under a single command centre. They will be key contributors to our operations."