CRPF to deploy local recruits in Naxal-hit states

NEW DELHI: Over 2,000 men and women recently recruited by the CRPF from left wing extremism-affected areas will be deployed there after training for better intelligence and operational effectiveness during anti-Naxal operations.

About 2,000 men and over 300 women were recruited over a period of one year and are now undergoing rigorous training in Ajmer.

Official sources said once the group finishes their training, they will be posted back in the Naxal-hit areas as they have better terrain knowledge since they are locals drawn from the same areas where the Naxals operate.

The biggest difficulty that the security forces face in the fight against Naxals is that most men are from other states and do not know the thick jungle and hill terrains where they operate.

Also, being outsiders it is difficult for the security personnel to get intelligence from locals and hence face numerous problems including language barriers.

Officials say the deployment of new recruits will make things easier as they known the terrain better and will be able to get local information.

The CRPF had earlier launched a recruitment drive for which they received about 1.3 lakh applications from the Naxal belt. The men and women were selected after a written examination and physical tests.

Meanwhile security forces are gearing up for an increase in Naxal activities by the end of the monsoon season which had somewhat restricted the movement of ultras in the thickly forested areas.

Most of the areas have single roads which were affected by heavy rains. The areas in interior parts were marooned in flood waters and hence the movement of both security forces and Naxals were limited, they said.

But now that the monsoon season is nearing its end, the waterlogged areas will dry down making movement in the forests easier, they said.