The Centre would consider the Orissa government’s plan to combat naxalite problem in the state, said Union home minister P Chidambaram on Friday.
“The Orissa government has come forward with a plan to tackle Naxal violence and I will take up this plan for consideration”, the minister said.
Chidambaram, who visited Orissa to review the security situation in the aftermath of the recent spurt in Naxal violence in the state, ruled out military action to fight this menace.
“No military action is required to fight Naxal menace in Orissa as the police forces are capable of tackling the problem. Whatever assistance required by Orissa to combat the Naxal violence would be provided by the Centre but at the same time the state government needs to improve its police strength in terms of recruitment and training”, he said.
He pointed out that the Centre is even ready to provide chopper services to the Orissa government, if required, for dealing with the situation in the Naxal infested areas.
Chidambaram admitted that the Naxal problem has been neglected for the past ten years and added, “Now the Centre is joining hands with various states which are bearing the brunt of the Naxal violence.”
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Commenting on the recent landmine blast triggered by the Maoists near Laxmipur in south Orissa’s Koraput district, he said, there is standard operating procedure for the police forces in the trouble-torn region and the forces should not violate this procedure.
Asked about the situation in Narayanpatna, a block headquarter in Koraput district, which is reported to have been taken over by the red ultras for last two weeks, he said, the Orissa police have been moved to all major areas in Narayanpatna. The home minister on Thursday had talks with the collectors and superintendents of police of the Rayagada, Koraput and Malkanagiri districts in south Orissa. There is Naxal violence in these districts and we will ensure that these violent activities of the Naxals will come to an end very soon, he said.
Chidambaram also visited some relief camps in Kandhamal district and stated that the district has not witnessed communal violence since December last year.
“There are 1,500 people in the various relief camps in Kandhamal district which are grappling with administrative problems like inadequate compensation, non-payment of stipend to children and hassles in issue of BPL cards. These issues can be sorted out by the district administration”, he said.
On the rehabilitation of the families affected by riot in Kandhamal, Chidambaram said, “There are 4,620 families affected by the communal violence in Kandhamla and these families can be rehabilitated. The Kandhamal district collector has assured me that the people living in the relief camps would be rehabilitated within 4-6 months.”
The Union minister however cancelled his proposed visit to the Panchabatimali bauxite mines of the National Aluminium Company (Nalco), near Damanjodi in Koraput district. Ten personnel of the Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) were killed by the Maoists, when they raided the mines in April this year.