With the increasing attack against CISF men in areas affected by the Left wing extremists, officials of para-military force manning industrial units across the country have demanded special allowances for men deployed in the Naxal-hit areas. Other para-military forces like Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are already withdrawing such allowance.
The CISF officials say while they are not involved in direct operation against the Naxalites, the nature of their responsibility has changed over time.
“Due to change in the security scenario, especially in the Naxal-affected regions, the challenges of the CISF has also changed. We are planning to ask the government to grant special allowances to the men deployed in the Naxal-hit areas,” said Rajeev, Director General, Central Industrial Security Force.
The CISF chief, who took over the reins of the force in February, conducted a two-day review last month of the forces’ units in Jharkhand to devise a new strategy to secure vital installations in the Naxal affected areas of the state.
Four Maoist guerrillas were killed and a CISF personnel was injured early on Monday during a four-hour encounter in Maoist-hit Chatra district of Jharkhand, the CISF officials said. The CISF officials said while two bodies of Naxals were recovered, the ultras were able to carry atleast two other dead bodies while fleeing.
In a similar incident, two CISF men were killed in an ambush in Bacheli area of Dantewada on November 16 last year.
The CISF officials said they have requested the local police in the Naxal-affected states to keep them in the loop while working on the anti-Naxal operation. “Looting arms and ammunitions is one of the major reasons for attack on CISF men. Though we have an advantage over other forces as we are in a fortified area, the latest developments have forced us rethink on the strategy,” the CISF DG said.