CRPF jawans fight 'invisible enemy' in Maoist zone

LATEHAR/PALAMU: Jharkhand is a critical place as the fight is against an invisible enemy, feel CRPF personnel posted in the state that often sees Maoist violence.

CRPF personnel deployed in Latehar and Palamu, which fall in the Red zone in the state, say Maoists can launch an attack anytime and from any direction.

Deputy commandant (CRPF) B B Bhakta, who posted in Laat village under Maoist-dominated Burwadih block of Latehar, said guerrilla warfare is a different ballgame. "When the enemy is invisible, level of alertness should remain high all the time," he said.

After successfully tackling a Maoist attack on a poll booth in Laat on Thursday, Bhakta said the security personnel have to avoid paths through forests because of landmines.

"We keep changing our plan and briefs every now and then so that even if some information leaks the possibility of being trapped decreases," he said.

Hailing from Tripura, Radhe Shyam Das, ASI of CRPF Battalion deployed for election duty, has seen lot of violence in his home state but here he finds it better to move in groups and keep communication channels live round the clock. "I am in charge of radio services and am aware of the fact that a single minute of drop in radio service can cut off the team from each other when they are deployed in different corners of forest to secure the polling booth," he said.

SI Vikram Kumar, who was in Kashmir before coming to Jharkhand on election duty, had never been in a Maoist turf before. "Villagers are innocent here, they welcome us to their homes. This kind of warm reception by locals is unique here," he said.

Source http://timesofindia.com/city/ranchi/CRPF-jawans-fight-invisible-enemy-in-Maoist-zone/articleshow/33646747.cms