Naxalite-affected states discuss common strategy

tags:India

NEW DELHI:-A crucial meeting of Chief Ministers of Naxal-affected states has reviewed the ongoing operations against Maoists and Naxals and discussed a common strategy to carry out coordinated operations across state borders.

At the meet, chaired by Home Minister Shivraj Patil, some of the states expressed concern at the spread of the naxalite activities in newer areas in states other than the nine classified as naxalite-affected.

The meeting discussed at length reports that the areas occupied by sandalwood smuggler Veerappan, who was killed in an encounter last year, were now used by the Left ultras.

States like Karnataka pointed out that the problem of extremism and naxalism should not be seen in terms of the number of violent episodes or incidents that have occurred but in a more anticipatory manner, and wanted the Centre to treat all states on par with the naxalite-affected states in the matter of giving assistance.

Bihar Governor Buta Singh, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Orissa Chief Minister Navin Patnaik, Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Babulal Gaur, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda has attended the meeting.

Home Secretaries of all states were present at the meeting.

The meet would decide how jointly could affected states counter the naxalite menace.

The meeting is expected to decide on heading, on rotational basis by states, the two inter-state joint task forces constituted for gathering, sharing of tactical intelligence and to undertake synergised and coordinated joint operations including hot pursuit across state boundaries against the Naxal leaders and cadres.

The two JTFs were set up after the states-Centre coordination panel held in Hyderabad in June this year.

Karnataka, which was excluded from the inter-state JTFs, has made a fervent plea to include it as a member.

The meet was convened by Shivraj Patil in the context of escalation in extremists violence in many parts of the country.

The immediate provocation for the Home Ministry to have such an exercise was the recent naxalite violence in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

Fifteen people were gunned down in a Jharkhand village early this week.

A fortnight earlier, a landmine blast near Bijapur in Chhattisgarh killed 24 policemen, including 22 from the Central Reserve Police Force.

Following the footsteps of Andhra Pradesh, where the naxalites killed a legislator, Chhattisgarh also banned the Maoist organisations in the state. Orissa government is also under pressure to ban the Left ultras.

At least nine states have been affected in naxalite-related violence in recent months. Apart from Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, the others are Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal.

The Maoist activists, who had re-grouped recently had been planning to create a revolutionary zone from Kathmandu to Colombo and from Pakistan to Bangladesh through the length and breadth of India.