Chhattisgarh CM seeks Central help to fight naxalite menace

New Delhi, Apr 13 (UNI) Terming landmines and IEDs ''major threats'' to security forces in naxalite-dominated areas, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today urged the Centre to decide early on extending services of experts to remove these threats.

''The police force is facing a major problem in safe movement due to landmines planted by Naxalites,'' Dr Singh said, in his speech at the Standing Committee Meeting of Chief Ministers of Naxalite-affected State, convened by the Prime Minister.

Noting that in 2005, landmine explosions were responsible for 41 deaths out of the total police 46 fatalities, he said the police had managed to recover more than 150 active landmines in 2005 and 2006.

The naxalites were also successful in blasting the anti-landmine vehicle, he added.

Pointing out that during the last few months, naxals had attacked many central government installations like public sector undertakings and railway property, he said that the new Naxal 'tactics' made it imperative to have a ''separate security system'' for these, and urged the Centre to provide central paramilitary forces for their security.

Dr Singh said eight out of 16 districts of his state were affected by naxalite problem. Noting that the insurgents had established their strongholdin remote and inaccessible areas, he sought helicopters to take quick action on receipt of information against naxalites as well as for casualty evacuation.

He also called for basing at least one Army division in Chhattisgarh for better training of pollice forces to combat Naxalites.

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