Aerial surveillance possible in naxal infested districts

Varanasi, Mar 31 (UNI) Taking cognisance of the naxal threat in view of the Uttar Pradesh polls, the state government has decided to take all measures to check themenance, including the use of aerial surveillance in the naxal infested region.

''The use of helicopters to render an aerial security survey is possible to ensure free and fair polls in naxal affected Mirzapur, Sonebhadra and Chandauli districts,'' state principal secretary (Home) K Chandramauli told newspersons here today.

''Heightened security in the naxalite affected region is a prime concern for the government and security will be kept on high alert in the three districts during the elections,'' he added.

Mr Chandramauli was in the city to review security preparedness for elections in seven districts of Varanasi and Vindhya division.

''We are keeping a close watch on naxalite operations in UP not only through our own security apparatus, but the neighbouring states including Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are also working in tandem to check the possibility of any naxal misadventure during the assembly elections,'' the PS added.

A nodal officer each has been appointed in the three neighbouring states and police establishment in these states and UP are regularly sharing information about naxal operations.

Reiterating the state government's resolve to hold free and fair polls in UP, Mr Chandramauli said, ''a total of 657 companies (70,000 personnel) of Central Para Military Forces will be deployed in the state. Out of this, 197 CPMF companies have already arrived for the first phase of elections and the remaining personnel will be in UP over the next three days.'' In the wake of yesterday's attack on a police team by inmates of Meerut Jail, Mr Chandramauli said, ''requests by the district administrations to shift to other districts, jailed criminals likely to influence the election process will be taken up on priority basis in Lucknow.'' The security review meeting was attended among others by divisional commissioners of Varanasi and Vindhya divisions, IG (Varanasi Zone), DIG Range of Varanasi and Mirzapur, besides DMs and police chiefs of the seven districts.

UNI