Centre asks IB to open anti-Naxalite wing

Though the exact strength of the Operations Wing is yet to be decided, the officials say the IB will devote ‘‘substantial resources’’ for this. The wing will augment the national and state-level multi-agency centre.

While naxalites have increased there presence, their operations too have have become more coordinated. State police and central security agencies are finding themselves on the backfoot because of lack of information. For instance, the Bihar Police and the central security forces were caught unawares when about 300 naxalites attacked a police station in Madhubani in East Champaram district on Thursday. The Naxalites had come with stretchers and carried back at least a dozen of their injured cadres.

Early last month, in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, they laid mines and trapped senior police officials. They also detained security forces for six hours; senior officials had to evacuated in a military chopper.