BASTARIA

AMN / Raipur

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh attended the passing out parade of newly commissioned ‘Bastariya’ battalion of CRPF in Ambikapur city of Chhattisgarh on Monday.

He took the salute at the passing out parade. Chief Minister Raman Singh was also present on the occasion.

Central Reserve Police Force has constituted the Bastariya battalion on the lines of Naga battalion. The battalion is named ‘Bastariya’ as its members are from the tribal Bastar region in south of Chhattisgarh.

This maiden anti-naxal force will be known as 241 battalion of CRPF. The Bastariya battalion comprise of more than 500 tribal youth from Chhattisgarh.

The squad that passed out on Monday has 33 percent representation of women combatants with 189 women constables.

Bastariya battalion will be deployed for anti-naxal operations in some of the worst Left Wing Extremism-hit areas, such as Sukma, Dantewada and Bijapur in Bastar division of Chhattisgarh.

Union Home Minister will also hold a high-level meeting Monday afternoon in state capital Raipur to review the anti naxal operations and will take stock of the developmental works being carried out in Maoist affected regions of Chhattishgarh.