Centre seeks Chhattisgarh curb naxalite menace
Bangalore, Mar 17 (UNI) Expressing deep concern over increasing menace of naxalite violence in Chhattisgarh, the Centre has urged the State to take effective steps to curb the menace, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today said.
Speaking to newspersons on the sidelines of the inauguration of a 400-bed Musculo-Skeletal Care Hospital here he said the Centre had provided over 13,000 security forces personnel to the State, besides other logistical support including deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to check the activities of the Maoists.
Referring to Maoist attack on a police camp in Rani Bodil in Chhattisgarh in which over 55 state police personnel and SPO's were massacred by the extremist groups on Wednesday, Mr Patil said the ''situation in Chhattisgarh was a matter of concern for the Centre.'' He said that during recent days the number of Naxalite activities and related casualties have come down sharply in Andhra Pradesh however, in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand the situation was worsening.
He said in Andhra Pradesh the number of naxalite activites came down to about 40 per cent whereas it had increased to 57 per cent in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Both the state governments should emulate the Andhra Model in curbing the naxalite menace he said.
Replying to a question, Mr Patil has ruled out the involvement of Maoists from Nepal in the early morning swoop and said that it was wrong to 'Jump the gun' before assessing the situation.
Following the Rani Bodil incident the state government needs to deploy its security forces more strategically than before and centre was willing to provide all kind of assistance, he added.
UNI