The government has set up three counter-insurgency and anti-terrorist schools in Odisha for training police personnel, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

Counter-insurgency And Anti-Terrorist Schools

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanad Rai responded in a written reply to a query whether the National Bureau of Police Research and Development has considered setting up a Central Detective Training School in Odisha to improve training methods of State Police while investigating and dealing with cases in Left Wing Extremist areas due to a high incidence of LWE insurgency in the state.

“There is no proposal by the Bureau of Police Research and Development to set up a Central Detective Training Institute in Odisha. However, the Government has set up Counter Insurgency and Anti-Terrorist Schools for training police personnel. Three such schools have been set up in Odisha,” said the MoS. To strengthen the training inputs in the states affected by insurgency and terrorism, during the 11^th Plan period, a scheme was approved for the establishment of 20 Counter Insurgency and Anti Terrorist Schools four each in the states of Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha at the cost of Rs 52.40 crores. In these Schools, 75,000 police personnel were likely to get trained for combating terrorism and Naxalism.

The proposed training mainly is outdoor and does not require large-scale permanent constructions. Most of the required infrastructure is temporary. The contribution of this MHA towards the scheme is to provide funds mainly for the establishment of CIAT Schools, recurring expenditure thereon and equipment upgradation. The land for these schools is to be provided by the concerned state governments. They are also to provide administrative support for running the CIAT Schools. The BPR&D is to sign the MOUs to this effect with the respective state.

LEFT WING EXTREMISM DIVISION

This Division was created w.e.f. October 19, 2006 in the Ministry, to effectively address the Left Wing Extremist insurgency in a holistic manner. The LWE Division implements security related schemes aimed at capacity building in the LWE affected States. The Division also monitors the LWE situation and counter-measures being taken by the affected States. The LWE Division coordinates the implementation of various development schemes of the Ministries/Departments of Govt. of India in LWE affected States. The States of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala are considered LWE affected, although in varying degrees.

Role and Functions of the Division

• Capacity building of States to combat LWE though schemes of Ministry of Home Affairs like Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme, Special Infrastructure Scheme, Special Central Assistance etc.
• Deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in LWE affected States.
• Providing funds to the CAPFs for strengthening of infrastructure/ Helicopters/civic action etc.
• Reviewing the security situation in the LWE affected States and issuing advisories to the State Governments concerned.
• Providing assistance to State Governments for initiatives to combat LWE in the form of funds for items of emergent nature.
• Coordinating implementation of LWE related Schemes of other Central Ministries for LWE affected Districts.