PC: Maoist menace will be over in 3 yrs
Giving a timeline for overcoming the growing Naxal menace in the country, home minister P. Chidambaram assured parliamentarians that the problem of Left-Wing extremism would be overcome in the next three years.
“The government was confident that the problem of Left-Wing extremism would be met with determination and overcome in the next three years,” the home minister said while addressing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the ministry of home affairs on Thursday.
Mr Chidambaram drew the attention of the MPs to the two-pronged strategy of development and police action to handle the Maoist issue being agreed upon by the Centre and state governments. While the Central government acknowledged that the primary role and responsibility was that of state governments in enforcing law and order in confronting the challenge of Left-Wing Extremists, it also recognised its responsibility in assisting the states in every way, the home minister said.
It was learnt that the issue of setting up of Counter Insurgency and Anti-terrorism (CIAT) schools in states, particularly West Bengal, to give adequate training to police personnel for anti-Naxal operations was discussed in the meeting.
The members are also believed to have raised the demand for including more districts to the identified 34 worst affected Naxal districts being given special aid and assistance by the Central government.
The home ministry is already looking into the issue and districts like West Midnapore in West Bengal may soon be added to the list, sources said.
Mr Chidambaram said the Centre was assisting the states by providing paramilitary forces, sharing intelligence and funding both development schemes and security measures.
Mr Chidambaram shared with the MPs the decisions taken during the recent meeting of chief ministers of seven Naxal-affected states chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. It was agreed that a Unified Command would be set up in four states — West Bengal, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand — for anti-Naxal operations.
Besides, the Centre would provide these states additional helicopters for logistical support, funds for establishment and strengthening of 400 police stations recruiting additional Special Police Officers. It was also agreed to set up an Empowered Group.
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