Chidambaram''s Gadchiroli visit may help curb Naxal menace

Mumbai, Dec 31 (PTI) Union Home Minister PChidambaram''s first visit to the Naxal-affected Gadchirolidistrict may help in curbing the Naxal menace there,Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil said.

"The Union Home Minister''s visit to Gadchiroli wouldhelp in curbing the Naxal menace. We have also received aid ofRs 25 crore towards developmental work in the district heannounced during the visit," Patil told reporters here today.

The Centre is also going to arrange for deploying CRPFbattalions in the Naxal-affected districts alongside the statepolice force, Patil said.

The State Government has been doing lot of developmentwork in the area like building roads, schools and providinghealth facilities, the minister claimed. A bridge of Rs 210crore over Pranhita river joining Maharashtra and AndhraPradesh at border village Sironcha has been proposed, headded.

Chidambaram, the first Union home minister to visitGadchiroli, reviewed the anti-Naxal operations in the districton Tuesday to assess the preparedness of security forcesdeployed there. He also held a closed-door meeting with highranking officials in Gadchiroli.