Chhattisgarh: CRPF arrests four Naxals in Bijapur

Bijapur (Chhattisgarh),[India], Apr 29,(ANI): The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Saturday arrested four Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district during a search operation. The arrest comes days after the deadly Sukma attack where 25 CRPF personnel were killed in an encounter with Naxals. The attack took place on personnel of the CRPF's 74th Battalion on Monday as they were assisting the local population in road building and clearing activity in the district. A high-level meeting on anti-naxal operation was also held yesterday which was chaired by Special Director-General (anti-naxal operation) D.M. Awasthi. Inspector General Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Bastar Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Dantewada Superintendent of Police (SP) and District Magistrate were also present in the meeting. Taking cognizance of the Sukma attack, the government earlier assured action against the perpetrators of the 'cold-blooded murder' while stating that the Centre if needed would review and also revise the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) strategy. However, the opposition is critical of the central government post Sukma Naxal attack and also questioned the policy of the Centre to tackle such attacks. "Last heard 'demonetisation' was the Govt's strategy to neutralize Naxalism. I hope the 'revised' strategy has a little more purpose & impact," Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said. Echoing same, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi asserted that the Centre has no policy to handle Naxalism. "Government has been proved incapable of tackling the situation, adding that for last two months DG CRPF post is vacant," Owaisi told ANI.(ANI)