Encounter proves TN safe haven for ultras: Jaya

Chennai, Apr 21 (UNI) Opposition AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa today said the recent killing of a Maoist in an alleged encounter at Kodaikanal has once again proved that Tamil Nadu has become a haven for extremists and law and order has deteriorated in the State.

In a statement here, she said the April 19 ''encounter'', in which one person was killed and more than ten had escaped at the hill station of Kodaikanal, had proved right her charge that the State had become a haven for extremist forces, thanks to the ''soft attitude'' of the DMK Government towards extremists.

During her regime, these forces were dealt with an iron hand, but after the DMK came to power in May 2006, they have raised their heads again, she charged.

Whenever she warned about deterioration of law and order, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi came out with unnecessary statistics to prove her wrong. Had the Government taken stern action against extemist forces, instead of accusing her, this situation would not have arisen, Ms Jayalalithaa said.

As the neighbouring states were taking stern action against them, the naxalites and extremist forces started sneaking into Tamil Nadu, thinking that they would be safe in the State, she alleged.

The ''encounter'' had created a sense of fear among the people and badly hit tourism in the hills, she said, adding that the incident had exposed the ''inaction'' of the Special Task Force, recently constituted by the Government to curb the movement of naxals and extremists.

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