CRPF adopts new strategy to tackle militancy

AGARTALA, July 16: Dogged by severe criticism for its alleged hobnobbings with tribal miscreants in highly sensitive areas, the CRPF, the largest deployed force in Tripura, has undertaken a new strategy in counter-insurgency operations in the state. The basic idea behind the new strategy is to make the force more people-friendly. The commandants of the CRPF battalions on Saturday held a high-level meeting which was attended by the DGP BL Vohra and IG, CRPF George C Podipara to assess the effectiveness of the revised strategy in counter-insurgency operations. The CRPF IG said the new strategy is being implemented as per direction of the Union Home Secretary Kamal Pandey after his visit on June 7 and 8 last as well as from the state government. Podipara said, among others the new strategy includes further concentration of CRPF posts in vulnerable areas, assistance to the state government in carrying out development works and civic action programmes in places inhabited by poor people. The CRPF has also emphasised on maintaining cordial relations with tribals and non-tribals, especially in the mixed-populated areas. Podipara while addressing the press has detailed the problems the CRPF faces in the state and stressed that despite severe constraints in many ways, the force carries out its relentless operations against the militants and helps the state government in maintaining the law-and-order situation. However, he indicated, the force needs more up-to-date intelligence inputs to effectively counter militancy in the state. The CRPF does not have its own local level intelligence network as yet in Tripura.