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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Soon, tribal corps to fight Reds by Josy Joseph

Soon, tribal corps to fight Reds by Josy Joseph

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published Published on Mar 2, 2012   modified Modified on Mar 2, 2012

The central government is finalizing a series of decisions to increase military presence across the Naxal belt in east and central India. Among them is a plan to raise the first Territorial Army battalion comprising local tribals. 

While sources insisted that the strategy was to increase military presence and no operations were planned, the move could deny many local advantages enjoyed by the Naxals. With a locals-only 'Home and Hearth' battalion and several military stations and training centres all over the tribal belt of central India, the Centre's strategy will give the military deep local presence and contacts. 

A senior source said the Cabinet Committee on Security may soon approve setting up of the first Territorial Army battalion comprising tribals from the Naxal-affected areas of central India. Referred to as the 'Home and Hearth' battalion, it will provide the Army over 1,000 trained, tribal soldiers who can be effective in a whole host of activities including intelligence gathering. In states such as Meghalaya, 'Home and Hearth' battalions have been proposed to carry out intelligence gathering among other things. 

Sources said the government is also in the final stages of approving three significantly large military stations or training centres in the Maoist affected areas. First is the proposal to set up aNational School for Counter Insurgency at Saraipali in Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh. 

The second proposal is for a fully fledged military station at Chakarbhata near Raipur. Sources said the government is starting land acquisition for the station. Earlier reports had speculated that the Army wanted to shift its Special Forces Training School from Nahan, Himachal Pradesh to Chakarbhata. 

The third is the decision to ensure a regular military presence in the Narainpur Maneuver Range in Chhattisgarh. An official said the effort is to ensure that a brigade size Army training group is present at any point of time in the range. Army troops have in the past practiced in the range. 

"Almost all these proposals are nearing approvals," a senior official said. He said the intent of the government was to "ensure military presence" all over the Naxal area, while avoiding operational commitments. Though the home ministry has been keen to have Rashtriya Rifles, the paramilitary force fully manned by Army personnel, the Army is not willing to shift them from Kashmir. Instead, the Army has suggested that the government raise fresh RR battalions for Naxal operations, a proposition not yet acceptable to the government. 

The present move of the government to ensure a visible military presence all over the Naxal belt is a major first step towards 'localization' of the military in the area. If the military is pushed into an operational mode, these preparations would provide a readymade platform and local resources to plunge into action.

The Times of India, 2 March, 2012, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Soon-tribal-corps-to-fight-Reds/articleshow/12104224.cms


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