Full-fledged COBRA operation to start soon in naxal-hit states

New Delhi, June 21 (ANI): The full-fledged operation of the special anti-Naxal force, the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA) battalion, in naxalite effected states is set to start soon to combat the growing Left-wing extremism in the country.

According to sources, about 2,000 personnel of COBRA have already been deployed in Chhattisgarh and Orissa.

Nearly 2,000 commandos of the force, who completed their training at the Jungle Warfare Training School from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Silchar in Assam, and equipped with 19 different modern assault weapons, are waiting for a final decision to start their operations.

According to the deployment plan, two battalions of the elite force would be stationed in Jharkhand and three in Chhattisgarh. One each battalion would be posted in Orissa, Bihar and Maharashtra besides two in Uttar Pradesh.

Over 70 districts in the country are affected by Left wing extremism, which has been described by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a "virus" and the biggest internal security threat.

The Government recently approved formation of a 10,000-strong special anti-Naxal force "COBRA"-to tackle the menace.(ANI)