New Delhi, June 21 (ANI):  The full-fledged operation of the special
anti-Naxal force, the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA)
battalion, in naxalite effected states is set to start soon to combat
the growing Left-wing extremism in the country.

According to sources, about 2,000 personnel of COBRA have already been deployed in Chhattisgarh and Orissa.

Nearly 2,000 commandos of the force, who completed their training at
the Jungle Warfare Training School from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and
Silchar in Assam, and equipped with 19 different modern assault
weapons, are waiting for a final decision to start their operations.

According to the deployment plan, two battalions of the elite force
would be stationed in Jharkhand and three in Chhattisgarh. One each
battalion would be posted in Orissa, Bihar and Maharashtra besides two
in Uttar Pradesh.

Over 70 districts in the country are affected by Left wing
extremism, which has been described by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as
a "virus" and the biggest internal security threat.

The Government recently approved formation of a 10,000-strong
special anti-Naxal force ''''COBRA'''' --  to tackle the menace. (ANI)