Fortified police stations in Chhattisgarh to check Naxals

Gearing up for a strong offensive against <g data-gr-id="31">left wing</g> extremism, Chhattisgarh police have claimed to have intensified the process of setting-up 'fortified police stations' in Bastar region in order to strengthen security apparatus in the Naxal-hit area.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had visited Naxal-infested Sukma district on May 31 to inaugurate the first fortified police station (FPS) of the state erected at Dornapal, 400 km away from the state capital.

"Apart from Dornapal, construction of FPS have been completed in Konta of Sukma district and at Bhairamgarh in Bijapur district," a senior police official said. 

The Centre had in 2011 announced to fortify 400 police stations in 83 worst Maoist-hit districts in the country at a cost of Rs 2 crore each. In Chhattisgarh, around 75 police stations were to be set-up in this line in which Bastar region accounts for the highest, around 50 police stations.

"The main objective of the FPS is to plug the chances of Naxals easily storming into the police stations or carrying out a direct gunfire attack from outside. Setting up double-storey building, high boundary walls, sophisticated control room and even watch towers are the fortification measures prescribed under the scheme," he said.

"The installation of remaining FPS is under progress in different districts of Bastar region. They are at different stages and will be completed soon," the official said without eliciting locations for security reasons. However, he added, "We are facing challenges in highly vulnerable areas of Sukma, Bijapur and Narayanpur as civil contractors refused to work there due to Maoist threat." 

The concerned superintendent of police has been asked to ensure full security at the construction site so that work continued unhindered, he added.

<g data-gr-id="24">Bastar,</g> spread over 40,000 <g data-gr-id="22">sq</g> km, considered as <g data-gr-id="23">stronghold</g> of ultras.