New Delhi: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman
Singh on Tuesday said banned terror outfits like SIMI are trying to
strengthen their base in the state and sought the Centre`s
assistance in tackling "serious challenges" posed by
terrorism and Naxalism.
"In Chhattisgarh, during the last few years, the Students
Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and its associated have been
trying to gain ground, but we have been able to foil their
efforts to create trouble in the state," Singh said in an
annual conference of Chief Ministers on internal security
here.
Noting that 10 out of our 18 districts of the state
are Naxalite affected, he said it is time "we recognise
Naxalism as a form of terror".
"We need to consider those who indulge in violent
activities in the garb of any ideology as terrorists...They
have consistently blocked all development efforts in scheduled
areas, targeted with vengeance any local resistance to their
violent activities and forced the youth to take arms," Singh
said.
"It is time we called the bluff of Naxalites as messiahs
of the poor and exposed them as power hungry terrorists who
have killed hundreds of tribal villagers who have refused to
join their violent movement," he said.
"It is time we freed the thousands of tribal foot
soldiers forcibly recruited by Naxalites and coerced in to
killing their own brethren. We have to collectively stop the
spread of this canard and make people at large realise that
Naxalism is the biggest threat to India`s integrity and
economic progress," Singh said.
The Chief Minister sought financial grant to set up a
state industrial security force "to provide complete and
systematic security to shopping malls, bazaars, hotels, big
educational institutions and centres of religious faith" which
could eventually contribute to Chhattisgarh development.
He said the state is grappling with the internal
security`s biggest problem of Naxalism. "All our bordering
states are also Naxal-affected areas.... The fact of the
matter is that commoner is being killed by these Maoists who
are destroying every unit of development.
"This is why we have adopted a strict policy to deal with
Naxal menace," he said.
The chief minister said the state government has commando
battalion expert in jungle warfare (Special Task Force) and
Counter Terrorism to tackle naxalism. "STF has been giving a
tough fight to the naxals in these dense forests," he said.
"Anti terrorist squads in the state are being provided
with modern available means of communications and security
while commandos of these ATS are being given advance
training. However, in view of the ugly side of this problem, I
would request that a battalion of NSG should be posted in
Chhattisgarh too," he said.
Singh said that in Bastar, Naxal`s special zonal
committee has 7 divisions, 35 area committees with about
50,000 Naxals and sympathisers who have waged a war against
democracy.
"More than 40 per cent Naxal encounters in the country
have taken place in Bastar alone. To further strengthen the
police force, we have enhanced the police budget from Rs 268
crore to Rs 1,100 crore in 2010. In the past six years, the
police strength has gone up from 22,000 to 51,000. We are
recruiting 3000-4000 suitable people every year to enhance
police force.
"During 2009-10 as many as 9413 cops were recruited. At
present, recruitment process is going on to fill up 1,226
posts. Similarly, many new police stations and posts have been
set up in the state," he said briefing measures to tackle
problem of naxalism.
A total of 79 Naxals were killed in 2010.
The chief minister demanded compensation of Rs 10 lakh
for civilian and security force personnel being killed in
Naxal attacks.
"In Chhattisgarh, central police forces personnel and
officials are working in quite adverse situations. I,
therefore, request that they must be given all allowances and
facilities in the same manner as their counterparts are
getting in Jammu and Kashmir," Singh said.
"The common man and officials being killed in Naxal
attacks be given Rs 10 lakh each as compensation by the
Centre. Other than this, there should be provision for jobs
for the families of those officials killed in Naxal violence
in Central services and organisations. The next of the kin of
those falling prey to Naxals bullets should be given free
education up to graduate-level and health facilities," he
said.
PTI
