Unified command mooted against naxalism

Bhopal, Dec 27 (UNI) Chhattisgarh Tourism, Culture and Forests Minister Brijmohan Agrawal today said the need of the hour for the Centre was to form an unified command for all naxalism-affected states and also announce a strategy.

''The issue has been raised time and again. If timely steps are not taken the situation might become explosive,'' he told reporters during a brief visit here.

Claiming that the state government was doing everything possible to tackle militancy in tribal-dominated Bastar, the minister added that the ''spontaneous'' Salwa Judum (Peace Mission) was also proving extremely effective.

Regarding several innocent tribals paying with their lives during the campaign, which was vehemently criticised for this very reason, Mr Agrawal said, ''The government is concerned about providing security to 'adivasis'. Those who died have been accorded the status of martyrs.'' UNI SD-AC SI RAI2114