Chhattisgarh police chief supervising anti-naxal operations

Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, Mar 7: Chhattisgarh DGP Om Prakash Rathor is camping in South Bastar region to supervise anti-naxal operations that were intensified following a spurt in Maoist violence over a fortnight back.

The top officer had to personally supervise operations after Chief Minister Raman Singh reportedly conveyed his displeasure to Additional Chief Secretary (Home) B K S Ray and the police chief over increasing Naxal violence in the region.

Dr Singh convened an emergency meeting of officials in the state capital yesterday after rebels killed six people and injured several others in two separate incidents in this district.

Naxals have intensified their activities in South Bastar for over last two weeks, triggering landmines and killing innocents and accusing them of being active in the 'Salwa Judum' peace movement.

Meanwhile, sources in Raipur said the Chief Minister told officials that people were blaming the spurt in police failure. ''We cannot tolerate any such laxity as innocents are being slain in Bastar,'' he added.

Dr Singh directed Mr Ray to visit extremism-affected areas to make an on-the-spot assessment of the situation and submit a report.

More than 45,000 people have fled their villages.

UNI