Government on Friday termed as "incorrect" and "baseless" media reports claiming the CRPF personnel killed in the ambush by Naxals at Dantewada did not undergo training and were ill-equipped.
"Reports have appeared in the media that 'A' company (45 men), 'C' company (12 men) and 'G' company (15 men) of the 62nd Battalion of the CRPF that undertook the Area Domination (AD) Operations exercise out of the base camp at Chintalnar, district Dantewada, Chhattisgarh had not undergone training. These reports are incorrect and baseless," MHA spokesman said here today.
He said 'A'company has undergone pre-induction training from May 25,2009 to June 21, 2009 and anti-Naxal training from February 8, 2010 to March 25, 2010.
Whereas 'C' company underwent the pre-induction training from May 25, 2009 to June 21, 2009 and 'G' company from February 28, 2009 March 8, 2009, the official said.
"Pre-induction training was imparted with specific reference to the area in which they were to be inducted. Anti-Naxal training is more intensive training.
'C' company and 'G' company will undergo anti-Naxal training when their turn comes in the cycle," the spokesman said adding, "all three companies were well-equipped."
Maoists had on Tuesday killed 75 CRPF personnel and one Chhattisgarh policeman in a surprise attack in Dantewada district.
The three companies lost six INSAS LMGs, 42 INSAS rifles, seven SLRs, 17 AK rifles, one each carbine, 2 inch mortar and a 51 inch mortar, he said.
"As regards training capacity, CRPF has CIAT schools in Silchar and Shivpuri with an annual capacity to train 1,829 personnel and 750 personnel respectively.
"Four more ad-hoc training schools are being set up, one of which will be for the CRPF. Twenty more CIAT schools, with a total annual capacity of 18,000 personnel, are being set up in five States with MHA's assistance and one of them has been completed and is operational in Orissa," the official said.
He added, the Army has trained 10 Battalions of CRPF, 10 Battalions of BSF and 5 Battalions of ITBP prior to their induction in Naxal-affected states.
Earlier today, Home Minister P Chidambaram in a CRPF function here said, "...Anyone who puts pen to paper, writes these words certainly has no heart and no conscience.
"Very little is written about the valour, very little is written about the bravery. Very little is written about that even when they came in the ambush, the companies managed to kill eight Naxalites as intelligence reports and other reports tell us today," he said.
Chidambaram also offered to quit as Home Minister in the wake of the attacks, but Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today turned down his resignation. PTI
