MHA withdraws 2 regular CRPF battalions from Bihar

PATNA: Anti-Maoist operations in the state may be affected as the Union home ministry has ordered for permanent withdrawal of two regular CRPF battalions from Bihar to be redeployed in Chhattisgarh. This withdrawal will cut the CRPF strength in the state by one-fifth.
Sources said advance parties of both battalions have already left the state. The two battalions were deployed in Gaya, Aurangabad, Lakhisarai, Jamui, Munger and Banka, which are labelled LWE-affected districts by the Union home ministry, along with Arwal, East Champaran, Jehanabad, Kaimur, Muzaffarpur, Nalanda, Nawada, Rohtas and West Champaran.
Six battalions, including a CoBRA battalion, were deployed in Bihar till now.Six more teams of another CoBRA battalion were also deployed here. Apart from CRPF, three SSB battalions and a few state police STF teams are also engaged in anti-Maoist operations in the state.
CRPF Bihar sector headquarters on Wednesday confirmed the withdrawal orders to TOI. “Actual withdrawal deadline is November 20,” public relation officer MK Singh said.
Singh said it’s up to the state government how it manages the vacuum that would be created by the withdrawal of the two battalions. “We have the relocation order, and it has to be followed in any condition,” he said.
As per sources, one of the battalions which are getting withdrawn had headquarters in Aurangabad. “This battalion operates in Aurangabad and Gaya, both Maoist-affected districts,” a source said.
“The second battalion getting redeployed has headquarters inside Moin-ul-Haq stadium but is engaged in anti-Maoist operations in Lakhisarai, Jamui, Munger and Banka. Teams of this battalion are also deployed at Bheembadh in Gaya which is core Maoist infested area,” a senior official engaged in the anti-Maoist operation said.
He said those from Bihar in these two battalions would now have a tough time in getting posted near home for 100 days after serving in LWE zones.
State police headquarters source said the talks to withdraw the two CRPF battalions from Bihar was going on for around three years, but things kept getting delayed. “Relocation orders suddenly came during the assembly election period,” a senior headquarters officer said. He said that one more reason for relocation is that Chhattishgarh government had already created the infra for the deployment of these two battalions and was awaiting their arrival since long.