CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu claims to be much ahead of other States in taking action to ensure an effective shield against naxalites. The State has an action plan to deal with the security threat while implementing several programmes for the socio-economic development of areas vulnerable to naxalism.

The funding for such development is being stepped up every year since 2003-2004, according to a senior police officer. The Inspector-General of Police, Intelligence, is the nodal officer for coordinating anti-naxal programmes. "There is no naxalite problem in Tamil Nadu," but the police have taken steps to prevent "possible infiltration of stragglers from the neighbouring affected States," the officer said. A vigil is being maintained.

Since the Uthangarai encounter in Dharmapuri district in 2002, three companies of the Tamil Nadu Special Police have been deployed at Pochampalli.

Two teams of the Special Task Force (earlier deployed to nab brigand Veerappan) have been assigned the task of "collecting information on the needs of villages" to ensure timely action by the authorities, the officer says. The special unit personnel gather information to check whether "people have crossed over from other States." Check posts" have been put up on the State's borders in Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Tiruvallur and Vellore districts to prevent infiltration from neighbouring States.

Besides a special unit collecting intelligence at the State level, there are special divisions at the district level. The police officer says since 2003, the youth of 47 villages in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts have been provided avenues for spending their time usefully.

There are four mobile libraries stacked with books on self-help opportunities and the biographies of great leaders to tackle unemployment among youth, camps are conducted to enable them to join the paramilitary, defence and police services.

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