Integrated plan necessary to combat naxalism: Raman Singh

Shimla, June 5 (UNI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today emphasised the need for integrated action plan for dealing with problem of naxalites that had inflicted six states, including Chhattisgarh.

It is not a mere law and order problem to be solved by the individual states but a national problem that required coordinated efforts and integrated action, he told reporters here.

Mr Singh said that he had been pressing this point for quite sometime and now the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had also agreed that it was a grave problem that could not be solved without an integrated plan of action.

The naxal movement was not only a threat for the affected states but also posed a challenge for the Indian democracy, he said, adding that nine of the 16 districts of Chhattisgarh were affected by the naxalites but the problem was grave in three districts.

''The tribals of Bastar area were agitated by frequent attacks by naxals, thwarting all attempts to develop areas. The tribals had also launched ''Salv Juram'' (peace march) to combat the naxal movement,'' he said.

The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister said that Rs 50,000 tribals from 150 villages had been forced to leave their homes due to naxal attacks and were living in camps in non-tribal areas.

The government had set up 26 camps for these uprooted people and were being providing electricity, power and food to inmates of these camps, he added.

UNI AS PS SRS PM2120