Anti-Naxal ops: Forces in 10 states put on alert

Security forces operating in 10 Naxal-affected states have been asked to maintain a high-degree of “alert” in view of violent counter-offensive launched by the left wing extremists, which led to the killing of seven Chhattisgarh policemen on Saturday.

Sources said the Naxals had lauched their Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC) in late March in these areas. The offensive has now been heralded with the first big attack on security forces as they killed seven STF policemen and injured about a dozen others in Sukma on Saturday.

The TCOC is the about 3-4 months time period beginning March-April when armed Naxal cadres undertake violent action against security forces and others to gain ground, re-group and strategise their plan of action before the onset of summer.