Hyderabad, Oct 13: Twelve days after surviving an assassination attempt by naxalites, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today chaired the first meeting of his cabinet to take stock of the law and order situation in the wake of heightened threat perception. The state of police preparedness and gaps in security drill that were exposed by the high-precision attack by People's War Group (PWG) naxalites formed the dominating theme at the meeting held at Naidu's Jubilee Hills residence, official sources said.

Naidu, recovering from collar bone fracture and injuries on chest and nose, explained to his cabinet colleagues the administrative measures that followed the October 01 incident including the revamp of police set-up that saw the exit of state intelligence chief, besides suspensions and transfers of key officials. The meeting focussed its attention on strategies to mobilise public opinion against growing naxalite violence and build a mass movement to mount pressure on extremists to eschew violence and join the social mainstream.

The meeting, which commenced at 11 am and is likely to continue till late afternoon, would discuss at length the measures to tone up security system to make it fool-proof, sources said.

A host of other issues like drought relief works, water releases and irrigation projects were also being discussed at the meeting. Bureau Report