12 IR battalions to tackle Naxals

New Delhi, July 24

Thirteen new armed police battalions, including one comprising mostly tribals from the worst Maoist-hit districts, will be raised by the government to tackle the Naxal menace.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved 12 India Reserve battalions for the left-wing extremism affected states.

Of the 12 battalions, four will be raised in Chhattisgarh, three each in Jharkhand and Odisha and two in Maharashtra.

The Cabinet Committee on Security has made it clear that 75 per cent of the posts at the constable level will be filled from 27 worst Naxal-hit districts and there should be a relaxation in age and educational criteria as considered necessary for recruiting local youths, a Home Ministry official said.

Besides, approval has been given to the Central Reserve Police Force for raising a ‘Bastariya’ battalion by recruiting youths from the undivided Bastar district of Chhattisgarh. For this battalion, all constables will be recruited from the tribal-dominated Sukma, Dantewada, Narayanpur and Bijapur districts (all part of undivided Bastar).

Further, two already sanctioned India Reserve battalions will be converted into auxiliary battalions in CRPF by recruiting youths from 15 severely Naxal-affected districts of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Odisha. Out of these 15 districts, five belong to Chhattisgarh.

The concept of ‘Bastariya’ battalion was considered useful as the recruits will be mostly tribals, who would help address the local unemployment issue, provide tactical advantage to the Central Reserve Police Force in operations, intelligence collection and language benefits. — PTI