UAVs to be deployed in anti-naxal fight

New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) The Indian Government plans to
deploy Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the fight against
Naxals for reconnaissance and their trials will take place
next week.
Sources said the services of UAVs are urgently required as
the forces engaged in anti-naxal operations needed real-time
information to achieve more success.
The UAVs, imported from abroad, have the capacity to fly
5,000 feet above the ground and can instantly provide
information to the ground force for immediate action.
The sources said the government may also request the
Indian Air Force, if required, to provide a few more
helicopters for rescue, relief and surveillance.
Four helicopters of BSF are currently deployed for the
task in Naxal-affected areas.
Sources said the government also plans to split the
mandate of CRPF into two parts--one exclusively for
counter-insurgency operations and another for law and order
duties--for their better utilisation.
Sources said the initial reports coming from Dantewada
indicated that there was basic violation of Standard Operating
Procedure, which resulted to such a high casualty.
Security agencies are now formulating new strategy to
counter the Maoists menace, particularly in Chhattisgarh
following the incident.
Government is also stressing on more rigorous training of
paramilitary forces on jungle-warfare before being deployed.
"We are availing the training facilities of Army and may
send more and more paramilitary forces to such institutes for
better training," an official said.
Sources said a time-bound inquiry has been ordered to
find out the lapses in the Tuesday incident in Dantewada
district in central Indian state of Chhattisgarh where 76
security personnel were killed by the Maoists.
The one-man inquiry committe will be headed by a retired
DGP level officer, whose name will be announced soon. PTI ACB
MRD