CRPF Director General Conducts Strategic Review of Anti-Naxal Operations in West Singhbhum
With the critical March 31 deadline for eliminating Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) from India rapidly approaching, the Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Gyanendra Pratap Singh, made a significant visit to Chaibasa in West Singhbhum district on Wednesday. This high-level visit was aimed at comprehensively reviewing the ongoing anti-Naxal operations, specifically focusing on the strategic execution of Operation Black Forest.
Intensive Discussions on Operation Black Forest
During his visit, DG Singh held an extensive meeting with top officials from the CRPF and the state police who are directly engaged in the operation to eradicate the banned CPI(Maoist) cadres from the Saranda forest region. The discussions were centered on formulating a clear and effective roadmap for future actions, with particular emphasis on tactical field operations.
"The meeting broadly discussed the roadmap for the future course of action. Strategic matters relating to the field operation were deliberated upon," stated Superintendent of Police Amit Renu. While specific details of the marathon meeting were not disclosed, sources indicated that the primary focus was on capturing Misir Besra, the last remaining high-ranking Maoist commander in the area.
Targeting Top Maoist Commander Misir Besra
Misir Besra, who carries a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head, is reportedly active in the Saranda forest with a squad of approximately 50 members. The meeting explored strategies for executing a final assault with minimal risk to security forces, including identifying probable safe routes for operations.
"How security forces can execute the final assault with least risk of damage was discussed, besides the probable safe routes were explored at the meeting," revealed a police source familiar with the discussions. This marks the third consecutive visit by the CRPF DG to the Maoist-affected district within the last three months, following previous visits on March 6 and January 19.
Addressing Security Force Casualties and Coordination
A critical aspect of the review was addressing the regular casualties of security personnel caused by Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasts. DG Singh issued a directive to commanding officials to ensure zero casualties during combing operations and long-range patrolling missions.
The meeting also covered several other operational aspects, including:
- Reinforcement of security forces in the operation area
- Enhanced coordination with the adjoining state of Odisha
- Other logistical and strategic issues pertinent to the anti-Naxal campaign
This comprehensive review underscores the intensified efforts by central and state security forces to meet the March 31 deadline for eliminating Left-Wing Extremism, with a clear focus on both tactical operations and personnel safety in the challenging terrain of West Singhbhum.
