The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is planning to induct a robotic device that would assist the force to detect and defuse improvised explosive devices (IED) in Maoist-affected areas. The robot is being tested and it will go for field trials soon.
The CRPF director-general K Durga Prasad, who is retiring on Tuesday, said the force is consulting IIT-Mumbai to ascertain the capabilities of the device.
A senior CRPF official said the robot under test is a four-wheeled machine that can be remotely operated by patrol teams to detect and safely defuse the bomb in a secure environment.
IEDs and hidden landmines are the weapons of choice of Maoists to inflict maximum damage on security forces.
The force is also trying to get some special boots that could save troops from getting hit by IEDs hidden beneath the ground . They are being tested at a Hyderabad-based institute at the moment.
There are 90,000 CRPF personnel deployed in Maoist-affected areas and the outgoing chief said a large number of rebel cadre were surrendering.
“There is no red corridor as it was propagated earlier....the Naxals are now contained to pockets only. We have been able to penetrate their hideouts and fortress. Our teams have inflicted heavy losses on the Naxals," said Prasad.
{{/usCountry}}“There is no red corridor as it was propagated earlier....the Naxals are now contained to pockets only. We have been able to penetrate their hideouts and fortress. Our teams have inflicted heavy losses on the Naxals," said Prasad.
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