Special training camps for army jawans in Chhattisgarh forests

In a bid to get the army jawans trained in the art of jungle warfare, a special training camp would be held for them in the densely forested areas of Chhattisgarh.

The Chhattisgarh state government has made available 750 sq km of deep forest area in Abujhmad in Bastar district for this purpose.

Official sources said that an army troop arrived in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday to undergo training.

Lt Gen VK Ahluwalia, general officer commanding-in-chief of central command had paid a visit to Chhattisgarh in February and expressed a wish to hold special training camps for the army, in Raipur. Ahluwalia had said that the sole purpose of these jungle camps would be to train the jawans.

"In the first week of February, senior defence officials had paid visits to different parts of the state and had expressed a wish to conduct training camps in the forest areas in Chhattisgarh. They had said that the jungles in Chhattisgarh would provide the best training grounds for the army jawans," sources said.

Chhattisgarh and Orissa Sub Area Commander Brigadier Amrik Singh said that the army jawans have come to Bastar with the sole purpose of receiving training and not to carry out any operation against the Naxalites.