CRPF sets up four special training institutions to counter Maoists

Coimbatore, Sep 23 (ANI): The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has set up four special training centres across the country to counter Maoists insurgency.

K. Vijay Kumar, Director General of CRPF, said that these institutions pertain to gathering effective intelligence, to detect explosives, to train in forest warfare and to prepare a new combat force.

"To counter the Maoist insurgency, the CRPF has set up four specialist schools like ones on gathering intelligence and also another to detect explosives (IED) as well as one at Belgaum where our personnel are trained in jungle warfare," said Vijay Kumar.

"Secondly, as per the government's directives, the COBRA (Combat Battalion for Resolute Action), now onwards could be deployed from one state to the other to counter extremism," he added.

Vijay Kumar said these institutions would engage in gathering effective intelligence, to detect explosives, to train in forest warfare and to prepare a new combat force.

"Those deployed with the COBRA, usually in the age group of 25 to 35, have been offered several additional fringe benefits of special allowances," he said.

He said the government had devised a surrender policy to bring the misguided youths into the mainstream of the society.

"Yes, the government has extended all help to the people in every region affected by the menace of Maoists, be it the rural areas under the influence of the Maoists, the urban locales and the forest areas. With a move to counter the threats posed by the Maoists and with an aim to reform the misguided persons we have launched the ASK formula -Arrest, Surrender or Kill," said Vijay Kumar.

"So much so, a rebel under the surrender policy has been able to become a representative of the people as a lawmaker. So all the plans are working out well," he added.

Emphasising that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is a major challenge for security and sovereignty of the country than terrorism, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram earlier this month said the Centre was open to talks with Maoists provided they suspend violence.

Chidambaram highlighted the fact that Maoists have killed 297 civilians and 109 security personnel in 2011. (ANI)