Friday, October 21 2005 17:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Coimbatore: To counter the challenges being faced from extremists and insurgents, particularly Naxalites, CRPF, which has taken the task of internal security of the Country, is in the process of modernisation, by inducting sophisticated weapons and gadgetry, a top official said today (Oct 21, 2005).

"CRPF do face some challenge in the Naxalite-affected areas, since they do not believe in face to face fight and use IED an lay landmines, causing heavy damage to the force", K T D Singh Inspector General (Operations), CRPF, Delhi told reporters at its training camp at Kududampalayam, about 20 kms from here.

Though modernisation was a continuing process and being done in a phased manner since 2000 every year, CRPF was getting better weapons, communication equipment, modern and bulletproof vehicles and mine protectors, Singh said.

To make the performance better, the force keep reviewing its requirements and old 7.62 rifles were being replaced with AK group of rifles and INSAS, besides inducting Automatic Grenade Launcher and CG Rocket Launchers, he said.

Saying that the force has acquired new variety of satellite communication system, which was very useful in inhospitable terrain, Singh said that CRPF was also getting sophisticated protection gears, bullet proof jackets, night vision devices, dog squad and gadgets for bomb disposal squad.

When asked about the strength of the force to take on the increasing extremist and terrorist activities, Singh said that with 25 more battalion being raised by next year, the total battalion strength would increase to 200 by 2007.

Singh, here in connection with the Police Commemoration Day, said there were two exclusive Mahila battalion, of which some have been deployed in adequate numbers in Jammu and Kashmir.

Though the level of terrorist activities and violence have come down in Jammu and Kashmir, strict vigil was being kept there, Singh said, adding that CRPF was alert in 13 States, including North Eastern and Naxal-infested, where the insurgent activities were 'still very active.'

"However, we have been quite successful at many places, neutralising terrorism, recovering weapons and explosives, besides arresting number of insurgent cadres", he said.

"We are taking care in countering the challenges from the Naxalites, who are causing damage by hidden attack, like they did in Chattisgarh and Jharkhand, where 31 CRPF personnel lost their lives. Such incidents are a sort of concern to us", Singh pointed out.

However, no amount of attack deters the determined force to carry out their task against Naxalites and the morale of the troops was very high, he said.

To counter these three types of activities, prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh, a Joint Task Force has also been created.

The Union Home ministry has decided to strengthen coastguard vigil, for which substantial funds would be provided soon.

At an average, 1000 CRPF personnel were laying down their lives, fighting various types of insurgent and extremist activities across the country, Singh added.