Naxalism to be main focus of Int Sec meet tomorrow: Home Secy

New Delhi, Dec 19 (UNI) Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta today said the Chief Ministers' conference on Internal Security tomorrow will discuss threadbare the threat posed by naxals in certain states, and seek to evolve ways to tackle the issue.

Noting several naxal-dominated areas, like those in Chhattisgarh, needed special attention to help the state weed out the menace, Mr Gupta told mediapersons on the sidelines of a conference, that naxalism was ''not purely a police matter and there are several development aspects involved.

''Development and security issues should go hand in hand,'' he stressed.

Earlier during the presidential address at the police authors meet organised by the Bureau of Police Research and Development, Mr Gupta exhorted the police force to remain alert and be prepared in the wake of the security challenges faced by the country, including terrorism and naxalism.

He said Rs 2000 crore had been allocated in the Eleventh Plan for technical upgradation of the Common Integrated Police Application (CIPA).

Noting that the combined number of police personnel in the country is far less than the strength of the private security guards put together, he called for efforts should be made to integrate them and share expertise to help the country face its challenges.

National Security Adviser M K Narayanan, who gave the Dr Anandswaroop Gupta memorial lecture, which is part of the three-day meet, requested the Home Ministry to help the BPRD in meeting its specific goal. The autonomous functioning of the BPRD should be safeguarded so that it can easily interact with those who serve the people including politcians, socialists and activists, he said.

Stating that the BPRD still needs to be more result-oriented, Mr Narayanan said some study papers presented on the occasion lacked depth and content as well as vigorous reasearch and needed to go beyond descriptive observation. Specific issues for research should be properly identified, he said.

The NSA said closer attention should be paid at empowering the police constabulary and subordinates. BPRD should also explore ways to introduce user-friendly police uniforms, he said adding that the wing should in all a ''storehouse of knowledge''.

BPRD DG Kiran Bedi was also present on the occasion.

UNI