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PM moots Group of Ministers to monitor Naxal menace

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday proposed constitution of an Empowered Group of Ministers to closely monitor the spread of the Naxalite movement.

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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday proposed constitution of an Empowered Group of Ministers to closely monitor the spread of the Naxalite movement.
 
The group could be headed by the home minister and include select chief ministers and meet at frequent intervals, he said in his introductory remarks at the chief ministers' conference here on internal security.
 
He said the group could discuss the special measures needed to be taken and the nature of assistance to be provided besides exchange of personnel between states.
 
The prime minister laid special emphasis on improving intelligence generation and collection as also the overall strengthening of the intelligence mechanism.
 
"I also recommend to you paying more attention to improving the software needed for the maintenance of peace. I mean by this, improving intelligence generation and collection, as also the overall strengthening of your intelligence mechanism," he told the chief ministers.
 
He said that analytical capabilities needed to be enhanced and proper benchmarks established against which progress and performance could be measured.
 
"Unless you devote personal attention to these matters, results cannot be expected," he said.
 
Referring to the Naxalite problem, Singh said, "We need a blend of firm, but sophisticated, handling of Naxalite violence with sensitive handling of the developmental aspects".
 
He said that it was in the most neglected areas of the country that Left wing extremism thrived today.
 
"These are also the main recruiting grounds for Naxalite outfits," he said.
 
The prime minister said that while Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh were at the forefront of naxal related activities today, many other states remained vulnerable.
 
"Chief Ministers must personally take in hand what deliverables are possible even while preparing to meet Naxalite violence through effective law and order measures," he said.
 
Expressing concern over the increasing activities of "externally inspired and directed" terrorist outfits in the country, Singh said intelligence agencies warn of further intensification of violence, with the possibility of more of suicide bombings, attacks on economic and religious targets besides those on vital installations, including nuclear establishments and army camps.
 
"Reports also suggest that terrorist modules and sleeper cells exist in some of our urban areas, all of which highlight the seriousness of the threat," he said.
 
Describing these as serious matters, the prime minister said this would necessitate greater alertness on the part of the states and local intelligence agencies, as also the police who have a locational advantage.
 
"Unless the beat constable is brought into the vortex of our counter-terrorist strategy, our capacity to pre-empt future attacks would be severely limited," he said.
 
Singh also said that in the battle of terrorism, the role of the public will be vital. "A major effort is necessary on our part to sensitise the public into becoming allies in this war and persuade some of them to function as counter-terrorist wardens, who could report on any kind of unusual activity," he said.
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