Army training 50,000 men for anti-Maoists operations, potential role conflicts
18 June 2010 8ak: Even though the Indian army expressed its apprehensions of taking up direct combat role in tackling the Maoists, citing its commitments in the valley and the north-east, Times of India reports that the Indian army is doing what it does the best – preparing for an eventuality of playing an active and direct role in combating the Maoist threat.
As part of the strategy, the Lucknow-based Central command headed by Lt Gen Ahluwalia, has been given the responsibility of training 50,000 soldiers in specializing in anti-Maoist operations and extending aid to the civil authorities.
India Newz reports that the new training capsule will focus on rigorous training schedule aims to re-orient troops, conditioned to fight hostile nations as well as insurgents of J&K and northeast, for a battle which is to be fought in the heartland and against an enemy adept at blending into the population.
Speaking to 8ak on the condition of anonymity, a senior officer posted in Lucknow, said “There has been a lot of pressure on the army for playing a wider role in tackling the naxal problem, this has been resisted by the service chiefs due to issues like command clarity, extensive duty of armed forces along the LOC and north-eastern sector, acute shortage of officers and above all the reluctance of the army to fight Indian citizens, keeping the collateral damage in mind, as we are a very emotional nation.”
Adding further he said “But it seems the time has come that we finally step in to root out the problem as all other mechanisms are failing, thus, the army on its part is preparing itself and the new training module is just a part of that exercise, so that the army can deliver if it’s called out at a short notice.”
Another officer told 8ak that a unified command is also being mooted to increase coordination between the civil forces and the military. However, the police are not too enthusiastic about the proposed idea because a senior army officer posted in the command will undermine their seniority. On its part the army says that posting a junior officer will reduce the effectiveness of the command because at command levels you need officers with varied and extensive experience and at ground level you need agile legs to convert the planning into reality.




