Centre calls meeting of CMs of seven Naxal-hit states on Nov 3

New Delhi: With Maoist violence continuing unabated, the Centre has called a meeting of chief ministers of seven Naxal-affected states on November 3 to chalk out a strategy to fight the menace.

The meeting, to be chaired by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, will discuss overall Left-wing extremism (LWE) scenario in 35 worst-affected states in the seven states -- Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Telangana -- besides issues like inter-state coordination.

"Action against mass front organisations of the CPI (Maoist), preparation of specific anti-LWE operations plans and checking of flow of funds to the LWE cadres are part of the agenda of the meeting," a senior Home Ministry official said.

The day-long meeting will formulate plans on how to maximise the use of around 1,10,000 paramilitary personnel currently deployed in Naxal-hit states, monitoring of pilferage of explosives and IEDs (improvised explosive device), rehabilitation of family members of persons killed in LWE violence and investigation of important cases against the naxalites with the NIA and state police forces.

Apart from the security issues, the Home Minister and the chief ministers will also take stock of the overall development initiatives taken in the LWE affected areas.

Installation of 2,199 mobile towers in Naxal-hit states, progress of construction of roads and bridges, review of high rejection rate and distribution of titles to tribals under Forest Right Act, financial inclusion through post offices, banks will be reviewed too. PTI ACB

Improvement in public perception management, extension of exemption both in terms of timeline and area of Forest Conservation Act 1980 for critical infrastructure in LWE districts, establishment of Kendriya and Navodaya Vidyalayas will also be discussed threadbare in the meeting.

Altogether 105 districts in 10 states are affected by Naxal violence, of which 35 districts in seven states were considered to be worst-hit.

According to an official estimate, Chhattisgarh has witnessed spurt in Maoist violence with 362 incidents reported in the first eight months of 2015, a whopping increase of 34 per cent over the corresponding period in 2014.

However, in Jharkhand incidents of Maoist violence fell from 217 in 2014 (till July 15) to 190 this year.

More than 40 security personnel have lost their lives in over 400 incidents of Naxal violence till August this year in various states of the country.

Over 15,000 people, including more than 3,000 security personnel, have been killed in Naxal violence in the last 35 years.

According to Home Ministry figures, while 12,177 civilians have fallen prey to Left-Wing Extremism during this period, 3,125 security personnel, too, lost their lives tackling the Naxal menace.

Also, as many as 4,768 naxalites were killed by security forces between 1980 and May 31, 2015. The Ministry also disbursed Rs 3,038.86 crore among the various states in the last three years for the modernisation of the police force.