40 pc decline in Naxal activities in last three years: DG CRPF

Naxal activities have declined by 40 per cent over the last three years and the Central Reserve Police Force is opening camps in the core areas of the rebels, CRPF Director General R R Bhatnagar said today.

He said the force had seen great success in dealing with Naxalism.

"During the last three years, Naxalism has decreased by 40 per cent. Their (Naxalites) activities have decreased greatly in areas where they had dominance," Bhatnagar told reporters.

The CRPF is opening camps in the core areas of Naxalites and successfully conducting regular operations, he said.

Bhatnagar added that the CRPF tries to reach out to people in distress in the various areas where the force operates. The CRPF, he said, provides medical facilities to the people in naxal areas.

"We have also introduced human face of the force and you have seen that in several naxal areas. In a recent case, we hospitalised an injured naxal woman even when she was firing on our troops and our jawan gave blood to save her," he said.

He said the CRPF had good coordination with the J-K Police, Army and other agencies.

The DG said several new technologies had been inducted in a bid to equip the force with latest weapons and to upgrade the troops' operational capabilities and preparedness.

He added the focus was also on better infrastructure for the jawans and steps were being taken for the welfare of the troops and their families.

The CRPF, which has 243 battalions, is a major police force dealing with a variety of situations across the country and it will deliver on whatever challenges it comes across in the future, Bhatnagar said.