Other States - Orissa

Anti-naxalite strategy termed successful

BHUBANESWAR: Director-General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) S.I.S. Ahmed on Sunday said there would be no uniform strategy to deal with naxalite violence which emerged as country’s biggest internal security concern.

“Given the specific problems and topography of different states, a common strategy to combat Maoist ultras cannot be put in place, although the menace is same everywhere,” Mr. Ahmed said addressing a press conference here.

Giving an example of Salwa Judum movement in Chhatisgarh, he said the government-sponsored anti-naxalite strategy had been a successful model and loss of lives had come down recently.

However, it was unlikely that the Salwa Judum could be replicated somewhere else, but it could be continued in Chhatisgarh, which was the worst hit State pertaining to the violence, he pointed out.

Mr. Ahmed met Orissa Director General of Police Amarananda Pattanayak and discussed Maoist movement in the State on Saturday.

He refused to spell out strategies being chalked out to meet challenge from Left-wing ultras.

He said the naxalite violence was spreading to newer areas such as in small areas of Maharastra and in a few patches of Karnataka forests. But Andhra Pradesh was still giving leadership to left-wing extremist groups at most parts of the country, Mr. Ahmed said.

When drawn his attention to Orissa government’s request to augment CRPF operations in the State, Mr. Ahmed said it was not possible.

The CRPF had 72 battalions deployed in Jammu and Kashmir and 47 in North East provinces while 32 battalions were engaged to fight Left-wing ultras, he said. “We are fully committed in J&K and North East.”

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