Centre to operationalise Special Action Force - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The four Special Action Force (SAF) battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), earlier raised and trained to counter anti-insurgency activities, would be made operational from Wednesday. The SAF was earlier known as Commando battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA). In his monthly report card, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said: "Four battalions of Special Action Force (earlier known as CoBRA) in the CRPF have been raised and trained. They were operationalised today." SAF are likely to be deployed in the anti Naxal operations. Earlier the Home Ministry has sanctioned Rs. 82.12 crore to the SAF for acquisition of land and construction of buildings, barracks and hospitals. Meanwhile, the mystery over the condition of Naxal leader Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji is still continuing. Commenting on whereabouts of Koteshwar Rao, Chidambaram said the Naxal leader seems to have not contacted media in last few days. "Well he has not called any of the media persons in last 10 days," Chidambaram said. There has been no news about Rao ever since a gunfight in West Bengal last week. There have been reports that Rao was injured during a 12-hour long encounter with security forces near West Bengal's Lalgarh. Rao is in charge of all the Maoist operations in West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh. In an email to Orissa Chief Minister's Office, Naxals claimed that they would take revenge for every bullet that hit Rao.