Chhattisgarh way behind in dealing with naxals:Jaiswal

Raipur, Aug 18 (UNI) Chhattisgarh has made no visible progress in effectively dealing with the naxalite menace, Union Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal today said.

''As far as Chhattisgarh is concerned, there is no visible sign of any progress in this direction,'' Mr Jaiswal said while addressing a newsconference after visiting the naxalite infested and flood-hit areas of South Bastar.

He said Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa and West Bengal have made remarkable progress in tackling the rebels. The Centre has been extending all support, including adequate para-military forces to Chhattisgarh, to deal with the Maoists, he added.

The Minister said the Centre had fulfilled the state government demands for para-military forces by sending adequate security forces to be deployed in the Naxalite areas. 'We have also sent Naga battalion to Chhattisgarh. This force is normally not deployed outside its territory,'' he added.

Asked about 'Salwa Judum' -- the ongoing peoples movement against the Naxalites in Bastar -- Mr Jaiswal said he felt that any such movement was good as long as the state government was able to provide adequate security to those participating in the campaign.

However, he said it appeared that the state government had failed to provide security as the Naxalites had raided a relief camp at Errabore, killing 34 people last month.

''Such an incident would not have taken place if proper security arrangements were in place,'' he added.

Mr Jaiswal said the government was of the view that problem of Naxalism was born out of lack of development in the respective areas. ''While initiating development measures, we will continue to use force against the rebels as a part of multi-pronged strategy to deal with the problem,'' he added.

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