Malaria poses challenge to security personnel in Bastar

Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, Feb 5 (UNI) Security personnel combating Naxalism in Chhattisgarh's forested Bastar region are facing a challenge from malaria which has claimed the lives of 23 personnel in the past six months.

Security personnel are being affected by cerebral malaria. The death toll break-up comprises the Naga Armed Force's 17 personnel, besides six from the Central Reserve Police Force and Mizoram Police.

Rebel attacks have claimed 12 lives in the last six months.

''A survey in south Bastar revealed that more than 500 personnel are affected by that form of malaria. An entire battalion had to be demobilised after all personnel at Kurushnar Camp were found infected,'' said Inspector-General (Bastar Range) Rajendra Kumar Vij.

''Seventeen of my jawans died of the ailment during the past six months while 12 were martyred in Naxal incidents,'' a senior officer of the Naga Armed Force told UNI.

The Chinta Gufa Station House Officer was rushed to Raipur by helicopter for treatment.

Pointing out that the personnel patrolled densely-wooded areas, Mr Vij added that the mosquitoes bit through even the thick uniforms.

''It will be proper to declare the region as malaria-prone so that more health facilities are made available and ex gratia will be granted,'' he felt.

On his recent visit to Bastar, Governor E S L Narasimhan -- a retired Andhra Pradesh-cadre Indian Police Service officer who also headed the Intelligence Bureau -- was told about the high incidence of malaria among the personnel. The governor assured that he would urge the Centre and state government to take an initiative.

''Recently, 1,57,193 blood samples were analysed in Dantewada district and 32,273 tested positive for malaria. Entire Bastar is a high-risk zone,'' said Chief Medical Officer Gambhir Singh Thakur.

Bastar district's Abujhmad is also ravaged by malaria. Health department sources said that afflicted extremists were also taking medicine form health workers.

UNI