K P S Gill faces tough task on first day in office

Raipur, Apr 18 (UNI) Former Director General of Punjab police K.P.S Gill, who took over as the security advisor to the Chhattisgarh government today, was immediately confronted with a challenge as armed Naxalites besieged Usur village in Dantewara district in tribal Bastar region.

More than 2500 armed rebels had besieged the village, having a population of about 3000, since morning in reataliation for the tribals' support to the ongoing anti-naxalite campaign 'Salwa Judum'. The Maoists, who had given a call for bandh, also beat up few 'Salwa Judum' supporters in the region.

Mr Gill, who arrived here this morning to take up new assignment as security advisor, went into an emergency meeting with chief minister Dr Raman Singh and senior officials in the light of the Maoist action in Urur village, located close to Andhra Pradesh border.

As the naxalites outnumbered the security forces in the region, a spokesman of the state police headquarters said the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Chhattisgarh Special Armed Force (CGSAF) were being sent to Usur from Amapalli area.

However, security personnel have been asked to avoid road and cover the district on foot as it is feared that the extremists might have planted landmines on the opproach road.

The spokesman said the high level meeting was also considering to press helicoptors into service to airlift the security personnel to Usur village to rescue the beleagured villagers.

Besides Chief Minister, Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam and Mr Gill, senior civil and police officials are attending the high level meeting, which is still continuing.

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