Anti-Naxal operations units without full-time heads

* ANO, Special Action Group, Gadchiroli Range are critical units and all are without full-time heads
By Kartik Lokhande 
Can one expect the army to fight a war without commander? At least, Maharashtra Government expects so in case of anti-Naxalite operations. For over one year, Anti-Naxalite Operations (ANO) headquartered at Nagpur is functioning without any full-time head. Similar is the case with other critical posts in the operations against Maoists.
Since the transfer of Anup Kumar Singh one year ago, the post of Inspector General of Police (ANO) is lying vacant. Anup Kumar Singh is currently posted as Joint Commissioner of Police (Administration), Mumbai Police. Rajvardhan, Joint Commissioner of Police, Nagpur, is holding additional charge as IG (ANO). The task of Joint Commissioner of Police, Nagpur, itself is a big one as the city is growing in prominence. Whereas, the position of IG (ANO) requires full-time attention as it is critical from operations point of view.
There are other vacancies also in ANO. These include one of Deputy Superintendent of Police, one of Police Inspector, one of Assistant Police Inspector, two of Head Constable, seven of Naik Police Constable, and clerical staff.
Special Action Group (SAG) headquartered at Nagpur, also is without full-time Superintendent of Police. Previously, Shrikant Dhiware was SP (SAG). On his transfer, Anant Rokde joined in. However, within three days, for reasons best known to the authorities, Rokde was transferred to Government Railway Police as SP. Since then, sources said, he is holding additional charge as SP (SAG). In fact, it has been held since long that SAG should be headquartered not at Nagpur but at Gadchiroli, the headquarters of Naxal-affected district. But, SAG is headquartered at Nagpur to facilitate training at Unconventional Operations Training Centre (UOTC).
The post of Deputy Inspector General of Police (Gadchiroli Range) also is without full-time officer. Ravindra Kadam, an officer with a long experience in dealing with anti-Naxal operations, was transferred on promotion to Nagpur Range as Special Inspector General of Police. Since then, Kadam is holding additional charge as DIG (Gadchiroli Range). However, as is the case Kadam is busy looking after politically sensitive matters relating to law and order situation in Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara, and Chandrapur districts under Nagpur Range. He cannot devote full time to duties pertaining to sensitive districts of Gadchiroli and Gondia under Gadchiroli Range.
Thus, these critical posts are being looked after by officers in additional charge. The laxity on part of the Home Department of State Government in appointing full-time officers is hitting hard the anti-Maoist operations. To make the matters worse, several officers are reluctant to join in the Naxal-affected districts of Gadchiroli and Gondia.
According to an officer in the know of things, during the recent visit of Sanjeev Dayal, Director General of Police, to an armed out-post in Gadchiroli district, he was shocked to see that the officer in-charge posted there could not point to the exact location of the out-post on the area map. This, said another officer, is a result of lack of full-time commanders at top levels. The full-time commanders can monitor the situation and also guide the ground-level force about several aspects including operational, strategic, tactical, and logistical. Besides, lack of full-time commanders also affects operational preparedness and morale of the fighting force on ground, he added. 

(11-08-15)

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