Chhattisgarh has constituted a new post of Special Director General of Police (Anti-Naxal Operations) to effectively combat Left-wing extremism in the state and has given the charge to senior 1986 batch IPS officer D M Awasthi as part of a minor reshuffle in the top police hierarchy. A DG-rank official, Awasthi has also been assigned the charge of another crucial offshoot of the state police - the special intelligence branch (SIB). Additionally, he will continue to look after the affairs of Chhattisgarh Police Housing Corporation as its managing director. Earlier, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) R K Vij used to handle anti-Naxal operations. Vij, a 1988-batch IPS officer, has now been given the charge of planning and provisioning (P&P) and technical services. Similarly, ADGP Sanjay Pillai, who was holding the charge of P&P, Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF), recruitment and training, will have an additional portfolio of special task force. However, he will be relived from the charge of P&P. The reshuffle has relieved ADGP Rajesh Mishra from the charge of telecom and he will continue to look after administration.