Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rated the naxal problem higher than terrorism, describing it as “the biggest security challenge” for the country.
Singh refers to them as a virus that poses the biggest challenge to India’s security
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rated the naxal problem higher than terrorism, describing it as “the biggest security challenge” for the country and called for an all out effort to curb the menace.
Chairing the internal security conference attended by chief ministers, the prime minister said, “Naxal violence is a virus and we have to eliminate it using all the forces present in the country.” The growing naxal problem dominated the deliberations at the conference which threw up some radical suggestions.
Charting out the roadmap to neutralise the problem, the PM urged states to create specialised forces, an idea echoed by chief ministers as well. Briefing journalists later, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said the Centre would also raise a special task force to combat naxalism while the states would also set up a dedicated force. Some states such as Andhra Pradesh have already done so and Jharkhand is in the process of raising a special anti-naxal force.
Home ministry sources said the five states most severely hit by naxalism would raise special anti-naxal forces. Besides, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) would raise two battalions to fight naxalism. A committee has been set up in the home ministry to work out the modalities for the constitution and functioning of the force. For additional police manpower, Patil said the Centre would raise 200 battalions.
The need for special training of forces to combat naxal menace was a core concern. The core naxal zone lies in forested tribal parts, requiring special jungle warfare skills which the police organisations deployed at present lack and have thus been unable to combat naxalites.
Expressing anguish over the way naxalism is being handled, Singh said that not a single day passes without some violence somewhere in the country. Admitting that naxal groups have succeeded in enlarging their base, the he said, “Although the notions of a red corridor from Nepal to Andhra Pradesh are exaggerated, we have to admit that they have achieved some degree of success in enlarging their areas of militancy.”
The PM noted that over the last few years the naxal groups even began to target vital economic establishments and eliminate important political leaders. “There also seems to be a consolidation of various groups with better coordination and better strike capabilities. In some States, they have also got involved in local struggles relating to land and other rights,” he said.
Although the number of violent incidents blamed on the Maoists fell from 1,509 in 2006 to 1,285 until Oct 31 this year, the number of security personnel killed by them rose from 157 last year to 188 until the end of October in 2007.
The Maoist uprising in India began in May 1967 in the West Bengal village of Naxalbari, giving birth to the term Naxalites. The most powerful Maoist group today is called the Communist Party of India-Maoist.
s_rajesh@dnaindia.net
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