Joint anti-Naxal action more effective than Central Command: DGP

MAHARASHTRA Director General of Police Dr P S Pasricha said that joint operations by the police of Naxal-infested states appear to be more effective than having a central unified command to tackle the growing left-wing extremism in the country.

Speaking to mediapersons during a day’s visit to the Second Capital on Wednesday, Dr Pasricha had discussed the special plan to curb the Naxal menace with senior police officials and reviewed the anti-Naxalite operations. “We are preparing a proposal after identifying the Naxal-affected districts to seek some more assistance from the Centre,” he said. He added that state was also recommending to the Centre certain amendments in the existing laws to make a dent in activities of the outlaws. He said that the Maharashtra Police had succeeded in building tremendous pressure on the Naxals in the past two years by arresting their 11 top commanders. Similarly, he said, 122 Naxalites had surrendered under the state’s surrender policy. “We are working with our Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh counterparts in the joint operations against the Naxalites,” he added. He said that last year Gaon Bandi scheme was implemented in 242 villages by encouraging the rural masses to prevent Naxalites’ entry into the villages. “I’ve asked officers concerned to study how to make the scheme more effective,” he added. Dr Pasricha informed that the police were getting vital inputs from Central Intelligence agencies that had helped in conducting joint operations against the Maoists. The state police chief thanked Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and his deputy R R Patil for giving an excellent pay package to the police personnel working in the Naxalite infested areas in the state. “If a constable dies in an encounter with the outlaws or in any landmine blast, his wife gets Rs 18.50 lakh under his special insurance policy. Even if he dies, his family gets monthly salary till the date of his retirement besides his financial dues. This has been done to encourage the police personnel fighting the Naxals,” he said. When asked, Dr Pasricha said that the police already had identified some frontal organisations of the Naxalites trying to spread the movement in the urban areas. “ We will initiate appropriate action against them but we won’t disclose out strategies at this moment,” he added.