'Anti-Naxal offensive to be intelligence-based'

Home Minister P Chidambarm said the upcoming multi-state coordinated offensive against the Naxals will be intelligence-based and the forces will have to adopt the tactics implemented by them while tackling militancy and insurgency in other parts of the country.

Home Minister P Chidambarm on Sunday said the upcoming multi-state coordinated offensive against the Naxals will be intelligence-based and the forces will have to adopt the tactics implemented by them while tackling militancy and insurgency in other parts of the country.

HT Image

Speaking at the 44th Raising Day celebrations of the Border Security Force in New Delhi, Chidambaram said, "I expect the BSF to hone the skills and tactics that were developed by it during the anti-militancy and counter-insurgency operations and adopt to the new conditions that they will face in the Naxal-affected areas.

"In these areas, operations have to be intelligence-based and (security forces) have to secure the support of the community and people living in those areas," the Home Minister said.

He said the security forces have to show great sensitivity and maturity in conducting operations in left-wing
extremism hit areas.

Hinting at the infiltration bids from across Pakistan, Chidambaram said though the force was doing a good job, one cannot afford to reduce the level of vigil and alertness.

"On the Western front, we have a neighbour whose designs are too well known. The BSF is a premier border guarding force of that frontier to keep out infiltrators and terrorists. On the Eastern front, the task is even more arduous, the jungles and mountains and the poor connectivity and a rather porous border... the BSF has to contain infiltration, smuggling and other activities."