PM to chair anti-Naxal meeting on April 13

New Delhi, Mar 31 (UNI) A meeting of the Standing Committee of Chief Ministers to control Naxalism will be held here on April 13.

Departing from convention, the meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the context of increasing incidence of Naxal violence in which more civilians were killed in the recent past.

Talking to mediapersons after a meeting of Coordination Centre meeting of Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police of Naxal affected states, Home Secretary V K Duggal said here today the Standing Committee meeting was normally chaired by the Home Minister.

"However, the April 13 meeting will be chaired by the Prime Minister," he said, adding the ministers in charge of forests, panchayatiraj institutions and rural development would also attend it.

Mr Duggal said the Prime Minister would take part in the deliberations and guide the efforts being made to contain naxal menace.

UNI SH/AJ HS KP1810