Nepal Maoists have continued links with Indian naxals: Home

New Delhi, Mar 19 (UNI) The Union Home Ministry seems to be worried by continued ''fraternal and logistic links ''between the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) and different Indian Naxalite groups, which have recently unleashed intensified attacks against civilians.

''Reports available with us establish continued links with Indian naxalites,'' ministry sources said here today.

Sources said there was proof to show the visit of activists of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) to various parts of the country, especially bordering states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, mainly for medical treatment.

Sources, however, pointed out that as many as 140 Maoists from Nepal were apprehended in Bihar, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country during 2001-05.

About 40 activists and supporters of CPN (Maoists) have been arrested in the year 2005.

Though the number of naxalite incidents have shown a marginal increase of four per cent in 2005 as compared to 2004, it is distressing that the resultant civilian casualties have increased by 11 per cent.

''It is all the more distressing that the killing of police personnel have gone up to 53 per cent in 2005.'' A total of 153 police personnel were killed in 194 attacks on the police in 2005.

As many as 80 parts of 76 districts in the nine states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are badly affected by naxal voilence though in varying degrees.

The level of violence is significant in the affected districts of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Orissa.

Naxal violence has been reported in the year 2005 from 509 police stations in 11 states, including the nine states facing grave naxal menace. The total number of police stations in the country is 12,476.

Sources pointed out that the high-level meeting on naxalism to be held here on March 31 will discuss the issue in the context of the recent incidents in Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand.

The meeting is convened by Home Secretary V K Duggal. Chief Secretaries and Home Secretaries and Directors General of Police from naxalite-infested states will attend the meeting.

UNI SH RP BD1445