Indian to raise 17 battalions of paramilitary for Indian-controlled Kashmir, Naxal hit states

The Indian government on Wednesday approved a proposal for raising 17 Indian Reserve Battalions for Indian-controlled Kashmir and Naxalite affected states, officials said.

"Decision to this effect was taken during cabinet meeting in New Delhi," an official said. "It includes five battalions in Jammu and Kashmir (Indian-controlled Kashmir), four in Chhattisgarh, three each in Jharkhand and Odisha and two in Maharashtra."

Officials said local youths will be recruited and the age and educational criteria will be relaxed by the states, if required.

A separatist movement and guerilla war challenging New Delhi's rule has been going on in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.

Likewise, a Naxal movement is currently active in more than a third of the 600-odd districts across central and eastern India.

India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh once termed the Naxalite movement as India's "greatest internal security challenge."

Naxalites are also known as "Maoists."

According to India's official broadcaster All India Radio, Indian Reserve Battalions were introduced in 1971 and so far, 153 battalions have been sanctioned. Enditem