Central team sent to Chhattigarh to review security before polls

New Delhi, Nov 11 (UNI) In a bid to give a strong message to Naxalites that violence would not be tolerated during the coming assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, the Centre has sent a high-level team to the state to take stock of the security situation.

The three-member team of the Home Ministry comprising CRPF Director General V K Joshi, DG BSF M L Kumawat and Special Secretary (Naxal Management) in the Home Ministry Vinay Kumar visited the Naxal-affected Bijapur and Dantewara districts of the state to study the situation.

The team reviewed the deployment of 17 companies of para-military force in Chhattisgarh and guide them to work effectively in view of the poll boycott call given by the Maoists. The team also discussed the operational details with the state administration and the central para-military forces.

By sending the team, the Centre wants to give a strong message to Naxalites that violence would not be tolerated in the coming polls, according to Home Ministry sources.

Already 17000 central paramilitary forces are deployed in the state, a majority of which are in these two districts which are worst-affected by Naxalism.

The state is going to the polls on November 14 and 20 with the Maoist dominated areas the first ones to go to vote. It is almost a war zone in the Maoist-affected areas and this year the tribal vote could be decisive. The attacks by Maoists are likely to rise as November 14 draws closer and even the candidates are fearful and avoid visiting the remote villages for campaigning.

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