Applying new strategy in anti-Maoist operations: CRPF

Raipur: In the wake of death of 25 CRPF men in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district, the force’s acting chief Sudeep Lakhtakia on Wednesday said a new strategy in anti-Maoist operations will be adopted and mistakes analysed.
“We are changing the tactics and applying new strategy in Bastar region (Maoist-hit district in Chhattisgarh) while focusing on anti-Maoist operations and also analysing the mistakes,” Lakhtakia, an Additional Director General-rank Indian Police Service officer, said at a press conference.
He said the Maoists attacked the CRPF men making a shield of villagers and caused huge loss to the force.
Lakhtakia and senior security adviser in the Home Ministry K. Vijay Kumar are acting in a close coordination with CRPF officers in Sukma district to ensure future course of action against Maoists.
The officer said Monday’s attack did not affect the morale of the CRPF troopers but they are rather more aggressive and ready to give a befitting reply to the Maoists.
Around 300-400 heavily armed Maoists attacked a 99-member CRPF unit, providing security to a road construction team, on Monday afternoon, killing 25 and injuring six troopers.
Meanwhile, the government on Wednesday appointed senior IPS officer Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar as the new chief of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), two days after the force lost 25 troopers in a deadly Maoist attack in Sukma. (IANS)