MHA wants to reduce CRPF units in Bihar

NEW DELHI: The home ministry has ordered withdrawal of two of the five CRPF battalions stationed in Bihar for anti-Naxal operations as it feels the state police is not keen on going after Maoists. The home ministry’s unfavourable decision against the state government comes at a time when the Centre is trying its best to woo Nitish Kumar by promising to review the criteria for granting special status to Bihar.

The move to withdraw 40% of central forces from Bihar was approved by home secretary RK Singh, a Bihar-cadre officer, after the home ministry seemed convinced that Bihar DGP Abhayanand was apparently not on board to launch operations against Maoists. Asenior Bihar Police official on the condition of anonymity said the state had a good record against the Naxalites and pointed out that MHA’s own records show Bihar arrested 422 Maoists last year, more than any other state while number of violent strikes by Naxals in Bihar had dropped drastically from 316 in 2011 to 166 in 2012.

A Bihar government source also pointed out that deployment of CRPF “does not come free” and Bihar has to spend nearly.`250 crore every year for CRPF.