'Pro-Naxalite websites found on the Internet'

New Delhi, May 17: Websites featuring pro-Maoist or Naxalite contents, largely hosted outside India, were found to be posted on the Internet, Minister of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal informed the Rajya Sabha today.

In a written reply, he said besides intercepting any information transmitted through any computer resource in relation to interests of the sovereignty or integrity of India, security of the state, public order among others, the Central Government can issue instructions to Internet Service Providers for blocking of such websites in India.

To a question, Mr Jaiswal said helicopters were provided to the naxal affected states mainly for need based movement of police personnel and evacuation of casualties. In the recent past, helicopters had been provided to Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra for this purpose.

Denying any reports that the naxal groups were getting arms from abroad, he told the members that the naxal groups were reported to have looted sophisticated arms including INSAS and AK 47 rifles from the security forces. They continued to use IEDs/landmine blast to kill civilians and security forces.

''As per available information, the present strength of armed naxalite cadres is about 7,200 and their arms holding is estimated to be about 5,450,'' he added.

Drawing attention to the series of meetings with State authorities of the naxal-hit states, he said important decisions were taken to strengthen intelligence gathering and sharing mechanisms by the affected states, long-term deployment of Central police forces, modernisation of state police forces among others.

To another question, he replied that as per available information, more than 9,000 militants/Naxalites had surrendered in Jammu and Kashmir, the North eastern states and in the Naxal affected states during 2003-05.

Of them, 973 surrenderee militants in J&K and 693 in Assam have been recruited by the Central para military forces, he said.

As part of steps being taken by the Government to tackle the naxal problem, he said the Home Affairs Ministry had issued guidelines for making 40 per cent recruitment in the Central Police Forces from the militancy/naxal affected and border areas.

UNI