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More copters, UAVs to take on Maoists New Delhi, May 29 The IAF has been asked to detail an additional unit. “The IAF will send the latest Mi-17 V5 helicopters,” IAF Chief Air Chief Marshall NAK Browne said today. These have night flying ability, better radars, latest avionics and have weapon pods underneath. “The rules of engagement will not change”, the IAF Chief said, meaning IAF pilots will not use the onboard guns unless firing in self-defence. The new unit of copters, some 6-7 of them, will be based at Nagpur and will augment the existing fleet that is spread across Ranchi, Raipur and Jagdalpur. At present some 6-7 copters, flown by IAF are available for forces on anti-Maoist duties. The new additions will double that helicopter-lift effort. In Maoist-dominated area, dense forests means there are no roads, but copters allow faster insertion of troops who are air-dropped on specified locations. The Mi-17 can carry some 25 men in one go. ‘There is no shortage of copters,” The IAF Chief said adding “Naxal operations will need a greater technical inputs to get information of Maoists. Sources confirmed that technical inputs will include some items which are not in public domain and could include a new version of thermal imagers, sensors and even better UAVs. The national technical organisation NTRO operates the UAVs which have ability to look under the tree foliage. The CRPF has wished that it will opt for the DRDO built UAV, the Nishant. Already specialised vehicles that are mine-protected have been used in Maoist-dominated areas. Their numbers will be increased. The Indian Army which trains paramilitary forces and state police in jungle warfare has been asked to ramp up capacity and add more numbers each year. Meanwhile, Indian security agencies have warned that Maoists may carry out more attacks in urban centres in the coming months. After the massacre of 27 persons, Maoists are trying their best to expand the CPI(Maoist) activities beyond its area of influence and targeted killings are one of the key options. In the recent past, Maoists have suffered significant reverses and May 25 attack in Jagdalpur was an attempt to hog national limelight and reassert their influence. Official sources said the desperation of Maoists was reflected in the intercepted conversations of the few top leaders mostly hiding in deep jungles of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha. Security agencies have assessed that 27,000 more paramilitary personnel will be needed and some three-years of sustained efforts is needed to dominate the Naxal-area in Bastar (Chhattisgarh), Malkangiri and Koraput (both in Odisha) and Latehar (Jharkhand). IAF’s Nagpur unit to help in Chhattisgarh
The anti-Maoist operations in Maoist hotbed of Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh are set to get a boost with IAF deciding to provide helicopter support from Nagpur where a new unit is being set up. The IAF has at present deployed six Mi-17 choppers from a unit based in Gorakhpur and they operate from three locations including Ranchi in Jharkhand and Raipur and Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh to support the operations.
BJP not keen on NIA probe,
wants SC-monitored SIT New Delhi, May 29 Sensing a red herring in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe, the BJP has started building up the case that the incident was not a security lapse but a national problem. In the meantime, BJP president Rajnath Singh also advocated a court-monitored special investigation team (SIT) to probe the killing of Congress leaders. He was quoted as saying that the probe in the BJP-administered state should not be carried out by an agency “controlled” by the Centre. “The BJP president has said the entire incident should be probed by a SC-monitored SIT, which should ascertain the reasons and what happened so that the conspiracy theory propagated by certain leaders can be investigated impartially,” BJP media cell in charge Shrikant Sharma said. Clearly, the BJP is wary of the NIA probe fearing misuse of the agency by the government. While the Home Ministry has tasked the NIA to conduct the probe into the incident, the Chief Minister too ordered a judicial inquiry. The party fears that in the run up to the elections in the state, the NIA might come out with a report, implicating the BJP-led state government. It is quite apparent that Chhattisgarh, which till recently was being lauded as the model state for food legislation, will now have to be tackled with a different strategy by the BJP. By asking Raman Singh to resign, the Congress is projecting Naxalism as a state-level problem, which the BJP intends to counter it with the argument that it is a menace in other states as well.
Karma had only 6 guards when attacked New Delhi, May 29 Preliminary reports suggested the extremists could target the Congress leaders as security was completely lax for the Congress rally when it had entered Jagdalpur district unlike Sukma district where adequate security was provided to the political programme. Sources said the suspended Bastar SP had failed to give clear instructions for security of the ‘Congress Yatra’ when it was passing through the troubled district. — PTI
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Sources said when the Naxals attacked the convoy of Congress leaders on May 25, Karma, PCC chief Nand Kumar Patel and others did not have adequate security, exposing themselves badly before the Maoist attack. Karma, who was on the hit list of Maoists for long, was given Z-plus security by Chhattisgarh government. But on Saturday, the tribal politician was accompanied by only six guards who were carrying only light weapons, sources said.