6 more C’garh dists to get anti-Naxal cells
Wednesday, June 13, 2007

RAIPUR, JUNE 12 : Accepting that the Naxalite menace has spread to almost the entire state, the Chhattisgarh Government has decided to establish Anti-Naxalite (Operations) Cells in six more districts, which were till now free from left wing extremism. The new cells will come up in Raipur, Kawardha, Rajnandgaon, Dhamtari, Durg and Mahasamund districts.

After the establishment of these special units only four districts, Bilaspur, Korba, Raigarh and Janjgir remain classified as non-Maoist affected. Ten out of the 20 police districts, Bastar, Kanker, Bijapur, Dantewara, Narayanpur, Sarguja, Korea, Jashpur, Balrampur and Surajpur, already have cells to tackle the extremist menace.

The step comes after intelligence inputs and interrogation of top arrested Naxalites revealed that after strengthening its base in tribal areas, the Maoists were now planning to spread its base in the plains of Chhattisgarh.

Elaborating on the plan, Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam said the proposal was forwarded by late Director General of Police O P Rathore, who had feared that the Naxalites had started to spread their base to non-tribal areas of the state as well. "A proposal for creation of these units was submitted under Rathore's tenure. It has been approved by the Government, as we want to be prepared to deal with extremists," the Home Minister added.

Acting DGP S K Paswan said the Government has taken the decision after receiving intelligence inputs that Maoists were planning to spread to more parts of the state. "We believe these districts are next on target. The interrogation of Dandakaranya Divisional Committee chief Satyam Reddy, alias Gopanna, who was arrested in May has revealed that the extremists are now planning to spread their roots in these districts," Paswan added.

Chhattisgarh Police had arrested Gopanna, along with two accomplices, Surendra and Suresh, from Gariyaband area of Raipur district. Gopanna has a Rs 5-lakh reward on his head.

Sources said Naxalite cadres had been visiting these areas regularly and were trying to woo the local residents with Maoist literature. "Naxal literature seized by the police also points towards the direction that Maoists are planning to spread to," the sources added

"Once these Anti-Naxalite (Operations) Cells are established, additional police forces will be stationed. The district police in these areas will also be provided with specialised training to tackle with the Maoist menace," sources added. The cells will be directly reporting to SSPs and SPs.

Power supply restored

RAIPUR: After 12 days of darkness, the power supply to Bastar, Narayanpur, Dantewada and Bijapur districts was partially restored on Tuesday. "It could take a few more days to complete the work as currently there is heavy rainfall in Narayanpur," a spokesperson for Chhattisgarh State Electricity Board said. Normal life in the Bastar region was thrown into disarray after Maoist extremists blew up the Bhilai-Barsur high tension transmission structures near Narayanpur on May 31. The restoration of power supply was affected after Naxalites blew up a truck on June 5, killing three CSEB workers and injuring five security personnel.

Indian Express

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