A one week training programme was held for all paramilitary personnel of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) deployed for election duties in Chhattisgarh.

The training programme included showing case studies and an analysis of Maoists’ modes of operation, a detailed presentation on the latest improvised explosive devices (IEDs) used by them as well as past incidents of Left-Wing Extremism (LWEs) affected areas.

Last week, CRPF Director General S L Thaosen told field commanders to ensure that the upcoming assembly elections in five states are held peacefully.

He also discussed changing tactics of Maoists and their use of deadlier IEDs.

Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram will go to polls between November 7 and 30, and the counting of votes will be taken up on December 3. Given the perceived threat of Maoist activity in Chhattisgarh, the state will be the only one to hold polls in two phases – on November 7 (20 seats) and 17 (70 seats).

An official told The Indian Express that the training programme was held for all paramilitary personnel since many of them will be in LWE areas for the first time and weren’t familiar with Maoist tactics. “The training will only be imparted to personnel deployed in LWE affected areas and not to those being sent to other states,” the official said.

The Indian Express has gained access to the training schedule. Subjects included were familiarisation of LWE areas, overview of the scenario, history of incidents in all areas, the outfit’s movements as well as navigation on different i-net maps and use of navigational apps during the day and night. Other topics were various types of explosives used and the latest in IEDs employed by Maoists.

“We have also been informing all personnel about the case study, analysis of modus-operandi of naxals and how they can use sniffer dogs of their K9 unit,” the official said.

“Troops in Naxal prone areas have always faced challenges of encounters, IED explosions, booby traps, pressure mechanism IEDs, anti-handling IEDs and directional mines. IEDs pose a challenge to troops because they have to deactivate mines in areas as well as be aware of the possibility of encounters,” the official said.

Earlier this month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that as a result of the government’s zero tolerance policy to LWE, the lowest levels of violence and deaths in the last four decades were recorded in 2022. “There has been a decline of over 52 per cent in LWE related violence between 2014 and 2023 as compared to the period from 2005 to 2014,” Shah had said.