[The News (Pak)] In preparation for anti-Naxal operations in the Indian heartland, the Indian Army has earmarked five divisions to deal with the Naxal insurgency, which has been described by the Indian prime minister as the single largest threat faced by India. The
Luckhnow based Central Command has been tasked for training 50,000 troops and be prepared to deploy them at a short notice when called upon by the civil administration. Once launched, this would be the single biggest deployment of the Indian Army following its counterinsurgency duties in held Kashmir and the North Eastern region.
The Indian Army is also taking measures to improve the effectiveness of unified commands set up in each affected states, comprising the CRPF and the state police commanders, to check the Maoists' offensive. Four Brigadiers experienced in counterinsurgency operations have been deputed to the Union Home Ministry who will be appointed as operational advisers to the unified commands in the worst Naxal-hit states of Orissa, Jharkand, West Bengal and Chhatisgarh.
According to observers, the Indian Army is already overstretched with the counterinsurgency duties and fatigue is evident through rising incidents with lack of morale. However, the Naxal threat is getting beyond the capability of the paramilitary forces to contain. |