Raipur: Calling Maoists the "biggest
violators of human rights", Union Home Minister P Chidambaram
on Tuesday said anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh seemed to be
losing momentum though incidents of ultra-Left violence have
come down.
"Even though the Naxal-related incidents have gone down,
it can be said it is because the security forces are not
engaging in operations against them in the manner they
should," he told reporters after a review of anti-Naxal
operations in the state with top officials.
Chidambaram said Naxalites continued to be the biggest
threat to internal security and their presence in the state
was significant.
"Chhattisgarh is one of the two states worst hit by
Naxalism. Naxal-related incidents in the state have come down
and the number of deaths of common people and the jawans too
are less compared to last year. However, the overall action
taken against Naxals is insignificant," Chidambaram said.
The home minister asked the states facing the problem to
be more resolute in combating it.
Maintaining that the Centre was extending all help to
states afflicted by the menace, he said 135 companies of
paramilitary forces were currently deployed in the state,
while the Raman Singh government had recruited 54,000
additional police personnel. The backlog, he said, will be
filled by the end of 2012.
PTI
Chidambaram said a decision has been taken for repair
of two national highways passing through naxal-hit Bastar
district for improved communication.
Chhattisgarh government, he said, has been given an
assistance of Rs 150 crore for construction of 45 police
stations in affected districts. Besides, approval has been
granted for raising two India Reserve Battalions.
Admitting that executing development projects in
Naxal-dominated areas presented a major challenge as most
contractors were reluctant in getting involved, he suggested
that organisations like Police Housing Board should come
forward for executing them.
Replying to a query about business houses paying
protection money to Naxals, he said,"Small buisnesses pay the
Naxals out of fear. If any big company is intentionally aiding
Naxals, then it is a condemnable act."
A General Manager of Essar steel JS Verma had been
arrested in September this year for allegedly funding Naxal
groups in Dantewada area of Chhattisgarh in return for
'protection' of the company's pipeline.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, November 15, 2011, 20:16