The Hindu : National : Naxal-hit States to get 9 more battalions

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Friday, Apr 28, 2006

National

National

Naxal-hit States to get 9 more battalions

Vinay Kumar

Six battalions for northeastern States

The step is part of exercise to wean away unemployed youth
States have to provide specialised commando training to battalions

Personnel will be recruited locally

NEW DELHI: The Centre has sanctioned the raising of nine more India Reserve Battalions (IRBs) for eight naxal-affected States: Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Karnataka, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Chhattisgarh.

The Home Ministry is considering sanctioning one IRB each for Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, which are also affected. In addition, the Government has given its approval for raising five IRBs for Jammu and Kashmir and six for the northeastern States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, where insurgency prevails. One battalion consists of about 1,000 police personnel.

The Centre has been assisting the eight States in dealing with the naxal menace.

It came under a new scheme that would ensure a higher Central support of over Rs. 20 crore a battalion towards the cost of raising it and infrastructure assistance.

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