40,000 troops launch big operation against Naxals

 An anti-Naxal operation involving close to 40,000 security personnel was launched today in all affected states today with an aim to strike at the root of Maoist formations and cadres.

The four-day operations, led by paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), was started at the crack of the dawn at 4 am from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and other states.

This is the first time the forces, both central and state, have launched a coordinated operation to flush out Naxals from their interior hotbeds.

"The operation has begun today and a huge deployment of joint forces has been made. The idea is to scramble all the forces at one time so that Naxals cannot flee into neighbouring territories if they feel pressure by the security forces in one area," CRPF chief Dilip Trivedi told PTI.

Officials said all the states, which also include West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are part of this maiden offensive being undertaken against Maoist groups.

The proposal was recently mooted during a meeting of police chiefs of all the Naxal violence hit states and the results of the four-day operations will be analysed threadbare and a decision to undertake such offensives in the future would be decided.

The operation is being coordinated by CRPF with other forces like ITBP, BSF, SSB and various state police forces.

Close to 40,000 personnel have been mobilised, especially along state borders, to take on the Naxals, sources said.

The forces, according to sources, have asked their senior commanders to be on ground and all the operations are coordinated not only at state police headquarters here but also at the CRPF directorate here.

Enough quantity of arms and ammunition has also been made available to the forces while a fleet of BSF and IAF helicopters have been positioned by air droppings and evacuation.

Initial reports did not suggest any casualty on the forces' side but few Naxal camps have been busted, they said.