Page 5 - Lesson 18.xps

Module -VI
Armed Forces in Internal Security
Armed Forces and itss
• Second, it is a fact that it is taking place in Central India away from our nation's Role in Internal Security
boundary, which reduces the chances for hostile external factors utilizing the
Naxal problem as an opportunity to create national security problems for India.
We must understand from the above factors that the Indian Armed Forces which has
the fundamental objective of protecting India and its citizens against external threats
are not tasked to carry out anti-naxal operations as it would mean that the Indian
Note
Government is using armed forces against its own citizen.

However, the Naxals are armed and therefore require force to stop them. The
Government of India is primarily using its paramilitary force Central Reserve Police
Force (CRPF) and the state police of the respective naxal infested States in Central
India. So far the Indian Armed Forces have played an indirect role in the fight against
Naxalism. Let us see those indirect roles that the Indian Armed Forces is currently
playing to fight the naxalites:
• The Indian Army trains the CRPF commandos in the Art of jungle warfare and

to defuse the Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) that are predominantly used
by the Naxalites in their attacks against the security forces.
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) has employed its helicopters to carry out immediate
medical evacuation of wounded paramilitary soldiers from the naxal insurgency
hit areas where counter-insurgency operations are taking place. Over the recent
years the IAF transport helicopters, the Mi-17 have also been used to transport
the paramilitary troops fighting the Naxalitis.

Apart from this, the IAF has also used its unmanned aircrafts to carry out aerial
reconnaissance of the Naxal movement and shared the information with the CRPF
commandos carrying out operations on the ground.

18.1.3 Protecting India's Strategic Assets

Another important task of the Indian Armed forces in India's internal security protection
of India's strategic assets. Before go to the role of Indian Armed Forces in the protection
of the strategic assets of India, we must know what are strategic assets of a nation.

The term 'strategic assets of a nation' denotes the important military and civilian
infrastructures, which are essential for a nation's security, technological advancement
and economic growth.

The strategic assets of India include the following:-
• Military Bases

• Ports and airports
• Oil refineries

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MILITARY STUDIES 85