This Article is From Oct 09, 2009

Border Security Forces to fight Naxals

New Delhi, Gadhchiroli: The government is gearing up to tackle red terror. It's not quite an all out war but specialised forces are being brought in. The Cabinet committee on security chaired by the Prime Minister has approved a new plan to counter Naxal terror.

For the first time, BSF personnel have been pressed into anti-Naxal operations. And reinforcements have been sent to Gadhchiroli where several commandos were ambushed.

The government approved a new plan to counter Naxalites in the backdrop of the beheading of a Jharkhand police inspector by Maoists.

Sources have told NDTV that as per the new plan, states will be the first line of defence in anti-Naxal operations.

The new plan clearly rules out using Air Force for offensive operations, and firing is only permissible in self-defence.

Meanwhile, chilling details are now arising about Thursday's gruesome Naxal attack in Gadhchiroli, which killed 18 men of the elite anti-Naxal force.

According to police sources, a team of 40 were patrolling when they were ambushed by over 100 Naxals. While 18 policemen died, 22 survived the attack.

However, the policemen put up a tough fight despite being outnumbered. Police sources say there was some intelligence about a possible attack, reports of a Naxal military Dalam having crossed over to Gadhchiroli from Chhattisgarh.

Meanwhile, bodies of the commandos are still in Bhamragarh where the attack happened. Helicopters that went there to try and recover the bodies returned as it was too dark to land. It will take at least 12 hours to recover the bodies.
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