By IANS,
Raipur : They have been deployed in one of the most difficult hilly terrains of Chhattisgarh to take on the Maoists, but they are fighting malaria instead. Nearly 90 para-military troopers are suffering from the disease in Dantewada and Bijapur districts.
“This is not for the first time that a large number of malaria cases have been reported from cops deployed in forested Bijapur and Dantewada. In fact, 22 Naga and Mizo policemen died of the disease in 2006 while seven were casualties in Maoist attacks during the period,” a source said.
He said: “These 88 cases among CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) men including 40 cops of 55th battalion have been confirmed. We believe dozens more have been infested and have advised them to go for immediate check up if they have the symptoms.”
Troopers based in school complexes, close to thick forested belts, have also been asked to use mosquito nets.