Patil condemns naxal attack, assures all help to Chhattisgarh

New Delhi, Mar 15 (UNI) Home Minister Shivraj Patil today denounced the naxal attack on security personnel at a police camp in Ranibodli in Dantewada district, and assured the Chhattisgarh government of all required help for rescue and combing operations.

Home Ministry sources said here that Mr Patil spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh after the incident.

Senior Home Ministry officials have been in touch with senior officials of the Chhattisgarh government following the pre-dawn naxal attack.

"A close watch is being kept on the situation," sources said, adding that a helicopter has been sent from Delhi to assist the State Government in rescue operations.

"The Centre has promised the State Government any further help, if required. We will continue to extend all possible assistance to the Chattisgarh Government to deal with the Naxal menace. " Senior police officers of the State Government are supervising relief and search operations.

Strongly condemning the incident, Minister Patil said such attacks would not succeed in weakening the resolve of the Government to deal with the naxal problem.

He conveyed his sympathies to the kins of those killed and expressed confidence that the culprits would be nabbed soon.

The Centre has been regularly reviewing the naxalite situation in Chhattisgarh where 13 battalions of Central Para-Military Forces have been deployed to supplement the efforts of the State Police Force to control naxal violence.

As many as four India Reserve (IR) Battalions have also been sanctioned to the State and while two such battalions have been raised by the State, the other two are being raised. UAVs have also been made available to the State Government, besides 17 armoured vehicles to neutralize threats posed by IED/landmine blasts used by naxalites against the security forces and civilians. Three experts teams from the CPMFs for detection and disposal of explosives have also been provided.

Need-based helicopter facility for evacuation of casualties and movement of police personnel has been given to the State Government.

Additional funds of Rs.25 crore are also being given to the State Government under the police modernization scheme primarily for helping the State police to set up de-mining units with latest equipment.

This is in addition to normal funds given to the State every year under the police modernization and security related expenditure (SRE) schemes, sources said.

UNI