Centre to review naxalism in AP, Chhattisgarh Jharkhand, Orissa

New Delhi, Jul 15 (UNI) The Home Ministry will hold a high-level meeting tomorrow to review the naxal situation in the country.

Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta will meet senior officers from Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Orissa to review the naxal situation in these States. Stock of various measures taken to deal with the situation will be taken and further steps required to be taken will be discussed at the meeting.

Naxalism, which has been described as a virus by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, is a major threat to the internal security of the country. The Centre and the states are taking a number of steps, both security related and developmental, to contain the naxal menace. Regular review of these measures are carried out to ensure proper coordination and effectivness of these steps.

These four states are the epicentre of naxal violence in the country having the maximum number of incidents of naxal attacks and casualities. Andhra Pradesh, which has been quite successful in curbing the naxal violence, recently witnessed an upsurge with its elite force Grey Hounds being attacked by naxalites near the Orissa border.

Chhattisgarh, with a large tribal population has also witnessed a number of naxal attacks. The activity of Salwa Judum has also come under criticism from the Human Rights Watch.

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