Centre asks Jharkhand Govt to improve police response to Naxalism

New Delhi, Dec 8 (UNI) The Centre today assured additional central forces to Jharkhand and directed the state government to improve the ground level police response to effectively deal with Naxal violence.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil asked Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Kora to finetune the action plan prepared by the state government to deal with Naxalism. The Home Minister assured the Chief Minister that the state Government's request for additional central forces would be considered positively.

The Chief Minister was also asked to take concrete measures to 'post right kind of officers' in the Naxal affected areas and also strengthen intelligence machinery at the Police Station level.

Police personnel engaged in anti-naxalite operations also need to be regularly sensitised to avoid landmine blasts.

Mr Patil emphasised the need for special measures to accelerate developmental activities in the naxalite-affected areas.

He assured the Chief Minister that the Central would render all necessary help to supplement the efforts and resources of the state government to deal with the Naxals.

Mr Kora apprised Mr Patil about the situation arising out of the landmine blast by Naxalites near Bokaro City on December 2 in which 13 state police personnel were killed and also told him of the steps taken by the Jharkhand Government to intensify combing operations in the area to apprehend the culprits.

Union Home Secretary V K Duggal, Director General, CRPF, Chief Secretary and DGP of Jharkhand were among those who attended the meeting.

Earlier, Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibtey Razi and Chhattisgarh Governor Lt General K M Seth today met the Mr Patil to discuss the Naxal issue.

The meeting... Eds pick up from line one para three of DI 43 Security-Naxal-Home Minister UNI AJ PA DB2101