Anti-Naxal ops: CRPF finds Chattisgarh, Jharkhand most tough

CRPF, the lead anti-Naxal force, considers Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand as the most challenging states when it comes to tackling the menace of left-wing extremism (LWE) in the country.
It also feels said that states are "under utilising" the paramilitary force's potential in security-related tasks.
"Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand remain to be the most challenging states for us given the high density of forests and difficult terrain in these states," Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Dilip Trivedi told reporters on the eve of the forces' 75th Raising Day.
"There is some truth in the whole situation," he said when asked if state police forces were not taking a lead role in anti-Naxal operations.

"I did feel that there was some underutilisation of our capabilities (by the states) but these issues can be solved through mutual interactions and we have done so on many occasions," he said.
The DG said the force's largest area of concern, when it came to violence perpetrated by armed Maoist cadres, was the use of "explosives" and various kinds of improvised devices.

"The major concern is explosives. There has been an improvement in the type of explosives being used by them (Naxals) like pressure bombs and command wires for triggering them. They are obtaining capabilities to detonate a mine from a large distance. We are not bothered about the weaponary that they use but explosives that they possess," Trivedi said when asked about the biggest challenge for the force in this theatre of operations.

The DG said Naxals are getting explosives "easily". It has been found by security and intelligence agencies and through seized Naxal literature that the ultras are running short of weapons, he said.
"Explosive and mine attacks are also very demoralising for our troops as in such an ambush CRPF men do not even get an opportunity to fight back," he said.