Karnataka to deploy STF to tackle naxal menace

Incensed over Tuesday night's killing of a person by naxalites in Chikmagalur district, the Karnataka government today decided to deploy special task force (STF) to curb the growing naxal menace in Malnad and border districts.

A high-level meeting, chaired by chief minister N Dharam Singh and deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah, decided to rush in a 350-strong contingent of STF which was involved in the operations against forest bandit Veerappan, to four districts of Malnad region and another team of 220 men to border areas.

Addressing a press meet here, Singh and Siddaramaiah said the STF would be headed by Jaiprakash Naik, DIG and has been directed to start combing operations from Thursday.

Siddaramaiah, who holds finance portfolio, said the finance department has been asked release Rs 6 crore for providing incentives to the STF personnel drafted for operations against naxalites.

Giving details of Tuesday's attack at Menasina Hadya in Chikmagalur district, Singh said a 15-member group of naxalites raided the house of a Congress activist Seshappa Gowda and killed him, suspecting that he was a police informer.

Singh said after naxalites killed eight police personnel at venkatamannahally in Tumkur district recently, the police had stepped up vigil against the activities of the outlawed group.

"Last night's incident has proved that the naxalites are active in parts of Chikmagalur, particularly after two of their members were gunned down," he said.

Despite opposition parties' demand on deploying STF to counter naxalite activities, the government, which initially favoured the move, had put it on hold, saying "it is viewing the naxal problem as socio-economic and wanted a negotiated solution."

Meanwhile, addressing a press meet, C T Ravi, BJP MLA from Chikmagalur, demanded that the Dharam Singh government be dismissed, holding it responsible for the killing of a person.

Ravi and few other BJP activists picketed Singh's office at Vidhana Soudha, demanding STF deployment and compensation to the family of the killed Congress activist.