Avoid civilian deaths: Centre

Meet on Naxal ops: DGPs,top CRPF officers discuss methods to tackle problem of human shields used by Maoists during operations

The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the Naxal-affected states and paramilitary forces to come up with standard operating procedures SOPs to avoid civilian casualties during operations against the Maoists. These SOPs should be drawn by the field officers who have the experience of handling such operations.

The move comes days after 19 people were killed in Chattishgarhs Bijapur district during a joint operation of the CRPF and state police.

At a meeting on Friday,called by the Centre to discuss the issue,DGPs of nine Naxal-hit states and top CRPF officers discussed methods to tackle the problem of human shields used by Naxalites during the operations. The meeting was Special Secretary internal security Ajay Chaddha.

During the meeting,the MHA asked the states to provide training to fresh personnel deployed in their areas and a refresher course for the battalions which are already stationed to combat the Naxalites.

It was also agreed during the meeting that for all night operations in the future,details regarding the place where such operations are being planned will be taken into account. All routes,locations and,if possible,the number of villagers present in the area should be taken into consideration. It has been suggested that if there is any confusion among the forces,the operation should be delayed till day-break, said an MHA official.

For day-time operations,it was suggested that the forces should try to tactically disengage the Naxals if he or she is holding any person as human shield. It is believed that Naxals will use human shields more often and forces will suffer in short-term. However,we are planning to have long-term solution and if they continue to use human shields,the villagers will ultimately go against them, an officer said.

A proposal to have a uniform surrender policy for all states offering Rs 1.5 lakh to any Maoist who surrenders and an additional Rs 1.5 lakh for laying down an automatic rifle was also discussed at the meeting. The requirement for night-vision equipments was also discussed but since there are not many night operations,the states can pool their resources to use the same.

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The MHA also asked the states to post senior police officers in the worst-effected areas. Normally,the police station described as outpost is headed by an ASI or junior. We have asked these police stations to be headed by at least a Sub-Inspector, said the MHA official.

The CRPF said they would continue launching night operations as the halt will give an opportunity to the Naxals to regroup and plan bigger operations. There is no going back and we will not stop our operations. We are mulling over the ways and means to reduce casualties, said a CRPF officer.

The Bijapur encounter was a big blow to the Maoists and we continue to carry on the operations, said Pankaj Kumar Singh,IG Operations,CRPF.