The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved a proposal to set up a Counter-Insurgency and Anti-Terrorist school at Nagpur to train police and other security forces in combating left-wing extremism and militancy. It will provide “state-of-the-art” training facilities for jungle and field tactics, ambush, and handling of weapons. The Centre and the state will jointly fund the school. The state government will operate and oversee its functioning and an IPS officer will be specially deployed.

The Maharashtra Cabinet also approved a proposal to grant minority status to the Jewish community in the state. Minority status will help the state’s Jews – there are approximately 2,500 of them – set up their own schools and colleges, as well register their marriages under minority laws. The state also hopes the status will offer them protection and help them propagate their culture.

According to the 2001 census, there are 4,650 Jews in India. The community has had a small presence in the country for hundreds of years.