Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh): Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has given out-of-turn promotion to 64 police personnel of the Hawk Force for participating in the fight against the Maoists in Balaghat.
He also announced recruitment to 850 posts in Special Security Unit (SSU) of the special squad in the Balaghat zone.
The local youths will be connected with the anti-Maoist campaigns. They will also be provided with jobs. Yadav made the announcement at a function in Rani Avantibai Stadium in the Lanji area of the district on Monday.
The function was held to give out-of-turn promotion. Sixty-four Jawans of the Hawk force were elevated on the occasion. It was the biggest function for promotion in Lanji where Yadav himself feted the policemen. Eleven inspectors, six deputy sub-inspectors, eight assistant inspectors and 39 head constables.
The promotion was for shooting down four Maoists on February 19 this year. All were carrying a reward of Rs 62 lakh. Twenty-two cops of the Hawk force who participated in the mission against Maoists were elevated.
A joint team of Hawk Force and district police launched a campaign against the Maoists on July 8 last year. A Maoist, carrying a reward of Rs 14 lakh, was shot down. Nine cops who participated in the encounter were promoted.
Similarly, five cops caught a female Maoist carrying a reward of Rs 14 on her head on September 5 last year. Twenty-eight cops of Hawk Force shot dead two Maoists on April 2 this year. Both were carrying Rs 28 lakh on their heads.
Yadav also inspected a 300-year-old Babdi (stepwell) located in the Ram temple in Lanji. The stepwell is being restored. He also inaugurated two new power substations. He also announced various development projects worth crores of rupees.
Yadav said Balaghat would be wiped out by March 2026. He said Maoists should either surrender or get a suitable reply from the security forces. “If the Maoists lay down their arms, the government will provide them with jobs and other incentives,” Yadav said.
Director General of Police Kailash Makwana laid emphasis on the aim to wipe out Maoists by March next year. The in-charge minister of the district, Rao Uday Pratap Singh, was also present at the function.
