Chidambaram opens intelligence school for paramilitary forces

New Delhi, Feb 8 (ANI): Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday inaugurated an intelligence school for paramilitary forces to combat Maoist insurgency in the country.

Calling the effort as a milestone achievement, Chidambarm said the intelligence school would help to fight the Maoist ultras in an organised and effective manner.

"We have sanctioned intelligence training schools and a large number of posts for building up that school. I am happy that today we have reached a milestone and we are able to inaugurate the intelligence school of the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force)," he said.

Chidambaram also said that the ultras have slowly emerged as a regular fighting army, and there was an urgent need for paramilitary personnel to win the confidence of locals to combat the insurgency.

The home minister also witnessed a number of military drills performed by the newly commissioned CRPF personnel on the occasion.

Talking to mediapersons, CRPF chief K Vijay Kumar said young boys would be specially trained to cater to the needs of paramilitary troops.

"What we are getting is our own intelligence school where we will be able to put our boys through the grind and it is customized to our needs, our requirements which are very distinct from the needs of other organizations," he said.

Talking about the recent surge in Maoist activities, Kumar expressed his confidence that the paramilitary personnel were aptly trained to combat the ultras.

"The ups and downs are bound to be there, a little bit of hectic activity followed by a period of lull is something which is part of a cycle and we do recognize this fact and we have our own methods of going ahead," he added.

The Maoist insurgency has gripped nearly a third of the country in its violent tentacles, spreading into the interiors of 20 of India's 28 states.

Maoists have also significantly increased their presence in tribal and rural regions of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa. (ANI)