(a) whether the Army proposes to create a special force from the ex-servicemen trained in the art of handling explosives to tackle the menace of violence by Naxalites;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the time by which it is likely to be created and deployed in the affected areas?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE)
(a) to (c): No, Sir. However, naxalism being an internal security problem, is being tackled by the State Governments and the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Union Government through deployment of State Police and Central Para Military Forces. The Army is extending assistance to the affected States in capacity building by way of providing training to the Para Military Forces and State Police personnel, in handling anti-Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and by setting up training institutions and re-employment of ex-Army personnel to such institutes.