Duggal assures Rs.100 crores assistance for naxal hit states

Bhubaneswar, Dec 28 (UNI) Union Home Secretary V K Duggal today assured the naxalite affected states additional assistance of Rs 100 crores for improved weapons communication and system and de-mining equipment for strengthening the anti-naxal operation.

Mr.Duggal, who presided over the two day coordination committee meeting of the naxalite affected states that concluded today, later told newsmen that the Centre was ready to hold talks with the rebels but with the pre-condition that they should shun violence and surrender arms.

He denied media reports that the Maoists in Nepal had been aiding and providing arms support to left wing ultras in India saying there was no evidence of Maoists in Nepal providing any logistic support to the naxalites in India.

''We are watching the development in Nepal where the Maoists have joined with the ruling alliance and hope that there would be some positive impact on the Maoists in India,'' the Home Secretary said.

He stressed the need for strengthening the intelligence set up in the state and training police personnel and urged the naxalite affected states to make optimal utilisation of central assistance made available for modernising the police force.

The states must upgrade their force and strengthen the existing training institute,the Home Secretary said and assured that the Centre would provide all necessary assistance in this regard.

Mr.Duggal who reviewed the internal security situation in the 13 states facing naxal menace with the Chief Secretaries and the Director General of Police besides other senior officials,expressed his satisfaction on the better Centre-state and inter state coordination.

He said the overall situation in 2006 has been a distinct improvement over the previous year with number of naxalite violence decreasing from 1608 in 2005 to 1457 in 2006. The Union Home secretary said two years ago 510 police stations in the country were declared as naxalite affected but their number has been reduced to 372 now.

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