RAIPUR: In the first-ever visit by a chief of air staff to the conflict zone of Bastar zone in southern Chhattisgarh, Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa on Monday reviewed operational preparedness of the force to face the outlawed CPI (Maoist).
The visit is believed to be a recce by the air chief preparatory to a revamp of the strategy to be pursued by the Indian Air Force in Bastar, one of the most Maoist-affected regions in India.
Dhanoa interacted with the local commanders of various paramilitary forces deployed in the region. He was briefed by Bastar’s inspector-general of police, the collector and the superintendent of police on the existing situation and the strategies adopted against the militants.
There are six IAF Mi-17 helicopters deployed in Chhattisgarh for anti-Maoist operations. They assist the security forces in providing logistic and reconnaissance support in inhospitable terrain and lend a helping hand to civilians during times of crisis.
Since its inception as an anti-Naxal Task Force (ANTF) in 2009, IAF’s helicopters have carried out about 20000 sorties, flying 15000 hours, in Chhattisgarh, a senior IAF official told New Indian Express.
IAF choppers engaged in election duties and rescue mission in Bastar have come under the Maoist fire on five different occasions. During the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections in November 2008, an IAF flight engineer was killed when rebels opened fire on the helicopter in Bastar.
The IAF Mi-17s are allowed to retaliate to Maoist attacks. Two years ago the union home ministry decided to provide night landing facilities at all helipads in the Maoist-affected districts of the state.