Chief vows training, not raid
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Ranchi, Feb. 13: General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Command Lieutenant-general O.P. Nandrajog today confirmed that though the army would give technical training to the state’s armed police in combat operations, it will not participate in the anti-Naxalite raids.
He said the rebel outfits operating in Jharkhand and other parts of the country had close links with Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).
“The ISI activities along the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar and Indo-Bangladesh border in Jharkhand and Bangladesh pose a serious threat to our national security,” he said.
The governments of the concerned states should work out effective ways to combat the menace, he proposed.
In a 45-minute meeting with chief minister Madhu Koda, Nandrajog focussed on wide-ranging issues, including the local operational problems of the army and the welfare of service personnel. Rehabilitation of retired service personnel, transfer of army lands for the expansion of Birsa Munda Airport, the dispute over field-firing ranges, training to the state police and setting up of a new military cantonment in the state, too, were discussed at length.
The government offered to mediate army’s land negotiations with the villagers. “We have been giving regular training to the police since 2006. Eliminating the disruptive forces is the duty of the state machinery. We are here to support them. But, the army will not directly join the operations. The army is doing its job well at the borders,” he added.
So long, the army has been giving training to 500 JAP personnel every year.
During his meeting with the GoC-in-C, the chief minister proposed that the annual strength of JAP trainees should be raised to 1,000. He also proposed to start a new public school in Hazaribagh.
“My meeting with the army commander was cordial. He gave me positive assurances. I, too, agreed to form an auxiliary police force with the retired service personnel. This has already been done in Bihar and Orissa. The villagers need to understand that they will face an employment problem if the army takes away its training centres from the state. We will work out amicable solutions through mutual talks. Nandrajog also agreed to transfer army lands for the expansion of the Birsa Munda Airport,” said Koda.
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posted by Resistance 2/14/2007 11:47:00 AM,
