Centre to appoint more sleuths to gain intelligence

New Delhi, Nov 04: With Naxal attacks on the rise, particularly in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, the Union Home Ministry is seriously considering a proposal to jack up ground level intelligence collection by appointing more sleuths and raising additional battalions of Paramilitary forces.

The proposal also comes in the backdrop of recent terror attacks in Ludhiana and at Ajmer Dargah and in the light of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil`s warning that public places, crowded areas and places of worship might be targeted.

A senior Home Ministry official said that serious efforts were underway to appoint a large number of sleuths so that actionable intelligence was available to the police to foil attempts of Naxals and terrorists to unleash violence.

In the latest Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh, 15 policemen were killed on Friday in Bijapur district. On October 29, five policemen were killed in the same district by the Maoists.

Jharkhand too has witnessed a sudden rise in Naxal violence and in the latest attack in Giridih district on October 27, 17 people including a son of former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, were killed.

The attack was reminiscent of the killing of sitting JMM MP Sunil Mahto on March 4 this year by Naxals in east Singhbhum district.

The MHA official said the security establishment was examining CRPF`s proposal for raising 118 battalions over the next 10 years and BSF`s suggestion for having an additional 39 battalions over the next decade as part of their basic perspective plan sought by the Home Ministry. While CRPF has 201 operational battalions, BSF has 157.