The Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram today reviewed the anti-naxal operations in Orissa and Chhattisgarh with the Chief Ministers of the states Naveen Patnaik and Raman Singh. During their meeting, he offered Central government’s full support to the state governments to face the challenge of left wing extremism (LWE) through the two-pronged strategy of development and police action.
Violent incidents were reported in areas falling under 270. police stations in 64 districts in eight states. However, the number of incidents and the number of casualties is lower than in the corresponding period last year. Up to June 14 this year, there have been 811 incidents (1025 last year) resulting in 270 deaths (473 last year). Of the 270 persons who were killed, 190 were civilians (296 last year) and 80 personnel of the security forces (177 last year).
CPI (Maoist) and other Left Wing Extremist groups have continued to target civilians and killing them after branding them as ‘police informers’. Of the 190 civilians killed this year, 72 were branded as police informers.
LWE Targetting Infrastructure & Business
Left Wing Extremist groups have also continued to target infrastructure and businesses. This year there were 13 attacks on railway property; 18 telephone exchanges and towers were attacked; 4 panchayat bhavans and 12 school buildings were destroyed; and 82 roads and culverts were also damaged.
Chidambaram while reviewing the situation said, “Our security forces have confronted the challenge of Left Wing Extremists with courage and restraint. There have been 125 encounters between security forces and Left Wing Extremists and 78 extremists have been neutralised. Besides, 883 extremists have been arrested, 243 have surrendered and 315 arms have been recovered.”
“Besides, our security forces have apprehended top leaders of the CPI (Maoist). Of the 14 politburo members 7 were arrested. Subsequently, one escaped from a jail in Bihar and another jumped bail after he was released by a court in Andhra Pradesh. 11 members of the Central Committee were also arrested and are in judicial custody,” he said.
Today, Chidambaram reviewed the situation in Chhattisgarh and Orissa, especially the area along the border of the two states. Chhattisgarh has reported 218 incidents with 90 deaths and Orissa has reported 84 incidents with 26 deaths. Although the numbers are lower than the last year, the level of violence is unacceptable. The Central Government has offered its full support to the two. State Governments to face the challenge of Left Wing Extremism through the two-pronged strategy of development and police action.
“On the development side, under the Integrated Action Plan of 2010-11 and 2011-12, under which Rs.55 crore has been allotted to each of the 60 affected districts, 18,724 works have been taken up in Chhattisgarh and 10,427 works have been taken up in Orissa. Of these, 2,237 works in Chhattisgarh and 2,693 works in Orissa have been completed. The other works are in progress,” Chidambaram added.
