In a step towards uprooting the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in Chhattisgarh, the Centre has decided to deploy eight Battalions (over 8,000 personnel) of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) in the State on a permanent basis from 2021, reports The Pioneer on May 5. Presently, the ITBP battalions are deployed in the State on a rotation basis, with two or three of them shifted out every two or three years and replaced by others from elsewhere in the country. As per the new policy, these eight battalions already deployed in Chhattisgarh will be permanently based there for anti-Maoist operations and only personnel from them will be transferred in and out on an individual basis. According to an official, “the move to deploy Battalions on a permanent basis in Chhattisgarh will also strengthen their operations as the personnel will have proper time to establish their intelligence network in the area which is a must in the jungle warfare.”