Nagpur: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday admitted that Naxals have strengthened their position
and stepped up violence of late.
Winding up a day-long tour of the Naxal-hit district
of Gadchiroli, Chidambaram talking to reporters here candidly
admitted that the ultras have enhanced their strength and
carrying out more violence -- be it a blast or indiscriminate
firing -- at their chosen date and place.
Security forces need to be alert all the time and
careful in crossing roads and bridges while undertaking anti-
Naxal operations, he said.
Chidambaram became the first Union Home Minister to
visit Gadchiroli district in eastern Maharashtra which is
surrounded by Naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh and Andhra
Pradesh.
He held a closed-door meeting on his arrival this
morning with Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil, DGP D
Shivananad and some top ranking revenue and police officials.
The Home Minister also flew to Mutrumgaon, a remote
place in Dhanora taluka, to better understand ground
realities.
Chidambaram`s short visit, however, drew criticism
from Deputy Collector Rajendra Kanphade who claimed that
holding meeting in air conditioned rooms would not yield any
results.
PTI
