They will be part of the Bastariya Battalion…
New Delhi: On Tuesday, 07 March 2023, a fresh batch of 400 tribal youths from interior areas of Maoist-hit Bijapur, Dantewada and Sukma districts of Chhattisgarh have been selected by the CRPF for the post of constables as a part of special recruitment drive, officials said.
The tribal youths will be mostly part of the 'Bastariya battalion', named after the erstwhile undivided Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.
Hundreds of such native tribal youths have already been deployed by the CRPF after completing their training.
Offer letters to all 400 selected native tribal youths have been issued, a home ministry official said.
The announcement for the raising of the 'Bastariya battalion' was made by the Centre in 2016.
The personnel were drawn largely from the Bastar region, and were tasked with carrying out anti-Maoists operations in Chhattisgarh.
The idea behind creation of such a battalion is to get more advantage for the security forces in their fight against the Maoists.
Those who were recruited can speak and understand the local language, are familiar with the topography and will be able to get intelligence about the extremists very easily.
Besides, it will send a positive message and motivation to the local population as a large number of native tribal youths are being seen associated with the government through the CRPF.
The government had announced relaxation in terms of recruitment of weight and height for tribal men and women, another senior official said.
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