Colonel, brigadier to be sent to home ministry for advice on anti-Naxal operations

As government mulls ways to fight Maoists more effectively, the army will send colonel or brigadier-rank officers on deputation to the Union home ministry as advisers to carry out anti-Maoist operations.

"Earlier the home ministry had asked for major generals but later they changed their proposal seeking colonel or brigadier-rank officers with experience of commanding formations in counter-insurgency operations to provide advice in anti-Naxal operations. We have agreed to that", a source said.

The number of officers to be sent to the home ministry has not yet been decided.

Experience of battling terrorism and insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-east will help the officers to advise the states to formulate more effective anti-Naxal operations, the sources said.

Some of the Naxal-affected states have been requesting the government to send senior Army officers with experience in counter-insurgency operations, they added.

The home ministry is looking for an enhanced role of the armed forces in anti-Naxal operations. The defence ministry is hesitant to get involved in it although it is not averse to providing some kind of logistical support.

The home Ministry has sought the army's help in defusing
IEDs and demining the Naxal-hit territory.

It has also asked the IAF to provide helicopters for quick deployment and evacuation of paramilitary forces during anti-Naxal operations in inaccessible areas.

The proposal is currently before the cabinet committee on security which is yet to take a final view.

IAF has suggested to the defence ministry that its 15 helicopters deployed in the UN missions in African countries may be called back to meet the shortage of choppers.