Countering naxals is challenging, says new CRPF DG

Vikram Srivastava today took over as the chief of the largest paramilitary force in the world - CRPF - at a time when security forces are preparing for a coordinated onslaught against the Naxals, which he termed as "challenging."

Vikram Srivastava today took over as the chief of the largest paramilitary force in the world - CRPF - at a time when security forces are preparing for a coordinated onslaught against the Naxals, which he termed as "challenging."

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A 1973-batch IPS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Srivastava took over the charge from the outgoing Director General A S Gill, who attained superannuation today.

57-year-old Srivastava, who was earlier heading the ITBP, guarding the crucial Sino-Indian border, said the CRPF has an operation plan against the Naxals and stressed that the force "will do a good job".

Asked about the planned offensive against the left-wing extremists, Srivastava, who had earlier served with the CRPF as an Inspector General of Police said, "the force is rising to the occasion to meet the challenges."

Interestingly, with Srivastava taking over charge of the force, which has been mandated with internal security duties, it would be for the first time that two brothers are heading the two largest paramilitary force of the country, as his elder brother Raman Srivastava is the chief of BSF.