Centre in constant touch with Chhattisgarh govt:Patil

New Delhi, Mar 16 (UNI) Expressing his deep anguish and sadness over yesterday's naxal attack on a police camp in Chhattisgarh, in which 55 police personnel were killed, Home Minister Shivraj Patil informed the Lok Sabha today that the Centre was in constant touch with the state government.

Making a statement on the issue, Mr Patil said the Centre was keeping a close watch over the developments there. He said according to the information received from the State government naxalites in a pre-dawn attack targeted a police camp, located in Ranibodli Ashram school near Bijapur, killing 55 Chhattisgarh Special Armed Force personnel and Special Police Officers (SPOs).

Chhattisgarh police also claimed to have killed 10 naxalites. The Naxalites have also looted weapons from the police camp, Mr Patil added.

He said the senior police and administration officials had reached the spot and were supervising the relief and search operations. Chhattisgarh Home Minister along with the Director General of Police (DGP) also visited the camp. Search operations were continuing keeping in view the possibility of the surrounding area being mined by the naxalites, Mr Patil said.

The Home Minister said 13 batallions of Central Para Military forces have been deployed in the State to supplement the efforts of the state police to control naxal violence. Four Indian Reserve Battalions have also been sanctioned to the State, two of which have been raised by the State.

Armoured and Un-Attended Vehicles (UAVs) have also been made available to the State government to neutrtalise the threat posed by IEDs and landmines, frequently used by naxalites against the security forces.

Additional funds of Rs 25 crores are being given to the State government under the police modernisation scheme, primarily for setting up de-mining units. In addition, three experts teams from the CPMFs for detection and disposal of explosives have also been provided, Mr Patil said.

Need-based helicopter facility for evacuation of casualties and movement of police personnel has also been given to the State government. A helicopter has been sent from Delhi to assist the in rescue operations, he informed the lower House.

The Centre has assured all possible help to the State government, Mr Patil said.

''The Government views the naxalite menance as an area of serious concern and remains fully determined to combat the challenge posed by it,'' he asserted.

UNI