Naxalites are unsuccesfully trying to expand base in UP: police

Lucknow, Apr 6 (UNI) The Uttar Pradesh police, engaged in anti-naxal operations, is repositioning itself in view of the latest reports of naxalites trying to expand their base to places in the state untouched by naxal activities.

The naxalites, who already have grounds in three districts of Chandauli, Mirzapur and Sonbhadra of the state are reported to have been trying to make Mainpuri , Kaushambi, Shankargarh and Bara areas of Allahabad as their base.

According to highly placed sources, the fresh development was due to strict vigil by the security forces in the districts earlier known to have naxal base and also the government's endeavour to start developmental activities to divert gullible youth from the lure of the naxalism.

The new bases , which naxalites are trying to hold ground on, are inaccessible to the administrative machinery due to uneven topography, and backwardness and poverty.

''We are keeping track of naxal movements in the state and despite their efforts, they are unalbe to expand their base as the intelligence reports have pointed out,'' the senior state police officials told UNI here.

The Central government had also tried to put in place the development activities in the naxal-hit areas so that the poverty did not drive the unemployed youths to take up the guns.

Various pro-active measures by the state government had borne fruits to put an effective check on the naxalites in the state.

Sources did not deny the reports of apprehension of naxal attacks on some of the improtant installations- the licenced explosive meant for stone crushing in parts of these areas. They, however, asserted that the security mechanism in the state was fully aware of the naxal designs and was vigilant in the state.

''Efforts are on to raise a separate and dedicated force to tackle naxalism though it has been kept under check,''the sources said. The last major naxalite strike had taken place more than a year ago in which several policemen were killed in Chandauli district.

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