Home Secretary assures adequate security against Naxals

New Delhi, Apr 23 (ANI): Consequent to a couple of attacks by Maoists which disrupted the first and second stages of elections to the Lok Sabha, Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta assured that the subsequent three phases of polls will be secure, free and fair.

"The objective of having a free and successful democratic process was achieved and that will be achieved in subsequent phases also. Lets us not try to give a larger than life image (to the Naxals)," said Gupta.

He said this while interacting with the media persons after a meeting of the top brass of the security establishments and the top-level officials of the Home Ministry here last evening.

The brain-storming session chaired by Gupta discussed instances of Maoist attacks in Bihar and Jharkhand, including the hijacking of a passenger train by the rebels on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, the Naxals took 700-800 people hostage as they were travelling in a train from Barkana in Jharkhand to Mugalsarai in Uttar Pradesh. The Naxals had taken the train to the Latehar Railway Station.

They released the passengers more than four hours later. (ANI)