Rs 500-crore for mobility to police in Naxal areas

The Centre has drawn up a Rs 500-crore scheme to provide security personnel mobility while fighting in dense jungles so they can launch attacks without losing time or make strategic retreats reports Aloke Tikku.

Security Personnel posted deep in Naxal-hit districts could soon feel a little safer.

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The Centre has drawn up a Rs 500-crore scheme to provide security personnel mobility while fighting in dense jungles so they can launch attacks without losing time or make strategic retreats. The scheme will be launched in April and Rs 100 crore will be earmarked for the next five years.

Last year, 236 security personnel died fighting Naxals. As many as 40 have been killed this year alone.

The new scheme aims to channelise funds to provide critical mobility to the police, secure camping grounds and helipads at strategic locations to enable quicker movement of forces and fulfil other area-specific requirements of the police.

For one, this means basic roads will be built for the forces so they have mobility in otherwise inaccessible areas, without being paralysed by the fear of explosives planted by Naxals.

A senior home ministry official said the scheme will also entail construction of roads along rail tracks to enable forces to secure the tracks.

Police stations vulnerable to attacks will be strengthened and roads around them will be improved under the scheme to minimise risk of landmines.