Naxal ops: CRPF personnel to get AK rifles, force to move

In a major change of strategy to counter the red extremists, the CRPF will replace the traditional INSAS weapons used by its personnel in Naxal bastions in 10 states with AK series rifles.

To reduce the influence of Maoists in one of their last bastions, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is moving a fresh contingent of 2,000 personnel in Chhattisgarh's south Bastar area, which it said was its "biggest challenge".

"South Bastar remains one of their (Naxals) last bastions...in that area we have to plan how to reduce their (Maoists) influence.

"We are looking to deploy one battalion in that area soon while one has just moved in. We are planning to induct more troops," CRPF Director General R R Bhatnagar told reporters on on the eve of the 78th Raising Day of the force here.

A battalion consists of 1,000 personnel.

He said that the Bastar area is a "big challenge" for the force.

A senior CRPF officer later told

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)