Chhattisgarh will overcome naxalite problem:Governor

New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI) Chhattisgarh Governor E S L Narsimhan today expressed the State Government's determination to root out the menace of naxalism from the State and said there was no reason for despondency on this count.

''There may be shortcomings or failures in our fight against naxalites, but we will gain control,'' he said in an informal chat with media persons here.

The Governor, who had meetings with the Prime Minister and Home Minister to discuss the strategy to counter the naxalites, said by regular systematic policing the State Government would be able to get the better of naxalites.

Asked about the recent killings by naxalites, the Governor said, ''if you fight naxalites, loss of life is inevitable. That does not mean that the system has collapsed.'' ''99 per cent you succeed but a failure of one or two does not mean all round failure,'' Mr Narsimhan said.

He claimed that the Government had been able to give some kind of confidence to the tribals who were now willing to fight the naxalites. He expressed the hope that the tribals who had left their homes and villages out of fear of naxalites would go back to their villages.

Stating that the Chhattisgarh Government was for total control over naxalism, Mr Narsimhan said, ''We will bring naxalism to a low ebb.'' Asked whether the Salwa Judum movement(peace mission) started in the tribals in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh would continue, the Governor said whatever was in the interest of the State would be done.

MORE UNI