16 Apr : With the sudden spurt in Naxal attacks in various states, the BSF has said lack of intelligence has become the "biggest worry" in tackling Maoists and other militant groups.
"It is a fact that there was no prior information about the attacks, else we would not have lost our boys.
How come 200 people gather and attack a camp and there was no information?" Director General of BSF M L Kumawat asked while reacting to two subsequent attacks on the force in Bihar and Jharkhand leading to the killing of seven personnel.
Terming lack of intelligence on Naxal and militant groups as the "biggest worry", Kumawat said proper steps must be taken for the strengthening of the intelligence network both at the Central and state levels."Good intelligence has to be gathered for successful tackling of the extremist forces," he said.
Kumawat said many people living in the Naxal-infested areas were scared of giving information about the Maoists to the police due to their brutality.The BSF DG, however, made it clear that security agencies would give a "befitting reply" to Naxals with full force.
About 200 Maoists attacked a BSF camp in Bihar’s Rohtas district with sophisticated weapons injuring one. Seven BSF men were also killed on Thursday when Naxalites targeted a bus transporting them in Jharkhand’s Latehar area.
Kumawat described the use of sophisticated weapons like rocket launcher by the Naxals in the recent attacks against security forces as a matter of "great worry"."Use of rocket launcher by Naxals is a matter of great worry. Because, one can attack anyone from a distance without giving a clue," Kumawat said.
The BSF DG attributed the spurt in Naxal attacks as an "evil design" to disrupt the ongoing democratic process in the country."All these have been happening because of the evil designs of the Naxals who do not believe in democracy," he said.
Kumawat said security forces were trying to nab all those who were behind the recent series of attacks and bring to justice.