GUWAHATI, Jan 7 � The process of construction of a full-fledged battalion headquarter of the elite Cobra Force of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Assam has started and the battalion has already been posted in the State for launching specific operations against militants.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, DK Pathak, who recently relinquished charge of Special Director General (DG) of the CRPF and is all set to take over as Special DG of BSF tomorrow, said that the Assam Government has already handed over a plot of land for setting up the battalion headquarter of the Cobra Force in Darrang district, and the process of setting up the HQ, is likely to be completed within the next couple of years.
Pathak, an Assam cadre Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, said that the battalion which would have 20 operational teams, each having 39 well-trained personnel, has started functioning from Assam. The personnel of the battalion have launched successful operations in parts of Upper Assam, while some personnel are now in Meghalaya. A few teams are fighting Maoists in Bihar.
The senior IPS officer revealed that the Cobra Force was basically created to deal with Maoist rebels in different parts of the country and so far 10 battalions of the force have been raised. He disclosed that the personnel of the force are well trained in jungle and guerrilla warfare and they are being used as an assault force. He pointed out that the personnel of the Cobra Force are well equipped and they would not be used for normal law-and-order duties.
Pathak revealed that setting up of a battalion headquarter of the force in Assam would be beneficial for the entire North Eastern region as the personnel of the force can be used by the states of the region to launch specific operations against militants.
