New Delhi, Jun 17 : Amid reports of Naxals starting laying of land mines in trouble-torn areas of West Bengal, the Centre today dispatched the Command Battalions for Resolute Action (COBRA), a specialised anti-naxalite force to deal with the situation.
The Centre has decided to handover the first assignment to the newly raised COBRA by sending four units of the force comprising about 120 personnel to the trouble-torn areas in West Midnapore district and its adjoining areas, a top Home Ministry official said.
The troops have been airlifted from Orissa, where they are currently based.
The force will begin operations only after a thorough recce of the area where the Naxals reportedly have started putting land mines, the official said.
Agitating tribals of West Midnapore and adjoining areas have been protesting police "atrocities" on them in the wake of the landmine blast at Salboni, which was believed to target the Chief Minister.
The tribals, numbering 2000 under the banner of People's Committee Against Police Atrocities, stopped paramilitary forces from reaching the trouble-stricken areas.
The Centre has already dispatched about 1,600 troops of Central Paramilitary forces to the spot. Ze
8:09 AM
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