NEW DELHI: In its battle against Maoist violence, the government is now going hi-tech. It will for the first time use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to detect Naxal hideouts in dense forests and hilly terrain and monitor the movement of ultras to help ground forces carry out precision attacks.
The UAVs, with in-built camera and well-equipped data and video link, will gather and record information which will be shared among security forces engaged in anti-Naxal operations, specially in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
Trials of these UAVs, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), were recently conducted in Hisar and Delhi while more trials will be conducted in the jungles of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand soon.
"We are satisfied with the UAV trials in Hisar and Delhi. If we are satisfied with the next stage of trials, we will take the help of UAVs in our operations against Naxals,'' a home ministry official said.
The UAVs also provide flexible surveillance and reconnaissance capability with external payload, including weapons capability. "Since Maoists keep changing their movements, deployment of UAVs will certainly be an advantage for security forces,'' the official said.
Each UAV costs a minimum Rs 18 lakh and the home ministry has already earmarked a substantial amount of funds for the purpose.
According to official estimates, Naxal violence has killed more than 2,600 people, including civilians, in 5,800 incidents in the last three years. The highest number of incidents of violence has taken place in four worst-affected states -- Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa -- where 2,212 people lost their lives from January 2006 to August this year.
The Cabinet Committee on Security had already approved the government's new plan to counter Maoists under which the affected states will have an effective coordination and the police will take a lead role.
The anti-naxal plan also includes a Rs 7,300 crore package for undertaking developmental works in areas cleared off the left-wing extremists.
The UAVs, with in-built camera and well-equipped data and video link, will gather and record information which will be shared among security forces engaged in anti-Naxal operations, specially in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
Trials of these UAVs, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), were recently conducted in Hisar and Delhi while more trials will be conducted in the jungles of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand soon.
"We are satisfied with the UAV trials in Hisar and Delhi. If we are satisfied with the next stage of trials, we will take the help of UAVs in our operations against Naxals,'' a home ministry official said.
The UAVs also provide flexible surveillance and reconnaissance capability with external payload, including weapons capability. "Since Maoists keep changing their movements, deployment of UAVs will certainly be an advantage for security forces,'' the official said.
Each UAV costs a minimum Rs 18 lakh and the home ministry has already earmarked a substantial amount of funds for the purpose.
According to official estimates, Naxal violence has killed more than 2,600 people, including civilians, in 5,800 incidents in the last three years. The highest number of incidents of violence has taken place in four worst-affected states -- Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa -- where 2,212 people lost their lives from January 2006 to August this year.
The Cabinet Committee on Security had already approved the government's new plan to counter Maoists under which the affected states will have an effective coordination and the police will take a lead role.
The anti-naxal plan also includes a Rs 7,300 crore package for undertaking developmental works in areas cleared off the left-wing extremists.
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