Strong mechanism to tackle naxals in place: Patil

New Delhi, Mar 7 (UNI) Stating that a strong mechanism had already been put in place for monitoring naxal activities and evolving strategies to counter their operations, Home Minister Shivraj Patil today claimed there was a 6.15 per cent decline in the number of incidents last year.

Making a suo-motu statement in the Lok Sabha on the killing of JMM MP Sunil Mahto in his constituency on March 4, Mr Patil said there was a need for greater concerted and cooperative efforts between the states inter-se, as well as between the Centre and the states to achieve more acceptable results.

''We expect that the motivation and dedication of the state police, coupled with financial and technical support which includes equipment and manpower support from the Centre along with developmental programmes in naxal-affected areas, will have a significant impact on this problem,'' he said.

Narrating the tragic events that snuffed the life of Mr Mahto at Baguria village in East Singhbum district, Mr Patil said the naxals in a planned move, numbering about 40-45, overpowered his bodyguards and shot the MP and his security staff.

The state police had asked the Superintendent of Police in neighbouring West Bengal's Purulia district to seal the inter-state border and stop the movement while undertaking combing operations in its area.

Mr Patil said Jharkhand was provided a Special Grant of Rs 15 crore for purchase of telecommunication, weaponry and demining equipment besides Rs 20.92 crore under security-related expenditure scheme.

The state had received 182 crore under police modernisation. It was also granted Rs 450 crore under Backward District Initiative scheme and the state had so far utilised Rs 348 crore.

Mr Patil claimed the naxal violence had declined by 6.15 per cent from 1608 in 2005 to 1509.

The Minister lauded the efforts of Andhra Pradesh saying that it had achieved noteworthy success in controlling the problem through its special forces--'Grey hounds'.

UNI