Unified Command for Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand, W Bengal

New Delhi, Jul 14 (PTI) Four Indian states worst affected
by Maoist violence will have Unified Command structures to
fight the menace as the Centre offered more helicopters and
logistical support to states in their anti-Naxal operations.
Central state Chhattisgarh and eastern states Orissa,
Jharkhand and West Bengal agreed to the Centre's proposal for
creating a Unified Command structure headed by Chief Secretary
in their respective state to have better coordination among
police, paramilitary and intelligence agencies.
At a meeting of Chief Ministers of Naxal-affected states,
which was chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, it was
also decided to include a retired Army Major General as a
member in the Unified Command.
At the meeting called for devising a coordinated strategy
to tackle the Maoists, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra,
however, felt there was no immediate need for such a command.
"The Unified Command will be created in Chhattisgarh,
Orrisa, Jharkhand and West Bengal while more helicopters will
be deployed for logistical support, supplies and evacuation in
Naxal affected," Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters
after the meeting.
Militancy-hit northernmost state Jammu and Kashmir and
eastern state Assam have Unified Command structure that
includes Army.
The meeting also cleared the governments' proposal to
fund the establishment and strengthening of 400 police
stations in the affected districts at the rate of Rs two crore
per police station on 80:20 basis over a period of two years.
The decisions were taken in the light of experience
gained in the last six months, Chidambaram said adding the
Central government and the Chief Ministers were confident that
in the long run they will be able to overcome the challenge of
left-wing extremism.
The Chief Ministers called for a coordinated and
integrated action and better equipment and logistics to fight
the Maoist menace.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said "enforcement
action" alone was not enough to tackle the problem because it
could lead to further alienation of misguided youth who are
part of the society.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said that the
country must rise above the constriction that Naxal problem is
the concern of any single state but a national strategy was
needed.
He also said a dialogue with Maoists will not serve any
purpose unless they express faith in the Constitution and
adopt democratic means.

Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal will
appoint an officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police
as IGP (anti-Naxal operations) for each state who will be
co-ordinating the anti-Naxal operations with their
counterparts in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) which
has already appointed officers for similar exclusive
anti-Naxal duties, Chidambaram said.
The meeting approved raising of 34 new battalions of
India Reserve Battalion (IRB) for combating Left-wing
extremism.
It cleared a proposals related to induction of 16,000
more special police officers (SPOs) and exclusive development
schemes for the Maoist-hit states.
Currently, 13,500 SPOs are assisting the security
agencies to tackling the Maoists.
The home minister said the authorities required a
large number of helicopters to help the forces on the ground
but only 20 additional helicopters will be received from the
Indian Air Force, which is pulling out some of them from UN
duties.
Chidambaram said the Planning Commission was
considering a special development plan for the affected
districts with emphasis on road connectivity, primary
education, primary health care and drinking water.
"Consultations have been held with the state
governments and it is expected that the Plan will be placed
before the National Development Council shortly for approval,"
he said.
The home minister said the states wanted more and more
districts to be included in the Centre's scheme of 'focus
district' scheme which so far included 34 worst Naxal-hit
districts and satellite phones for the police forces.
The states also requested the Centre to include more
districts getting into the Security Related Expenditure scheme
and increase the number of Counter Intelligence Training
schools. There are 83 districts which get funds under SRE and
20 CIT schools.
The states have been requested to take urgent steps to
fill up around 97,000 vacancies in state police forces and
army a special recruitment drive in the Naxal-affected areas.
Chidambaram said despite some setbacks, the government
will continue the two-pronged strategy of police action and
development in Naxal-affected states.
Asked whether any state requested army help in its
fight against Maoists, the home minister said no state
government sought army help but requested to provide Indian
Air Force helicopters for logistical assistance.
Chidambaram said government has decided to revisit the
deployment of paramilitary forces and so far it has been done
on Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa.
The meeting is being attended by chief ministers of
Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
While Jharkhand is being represented by its governor, West
Bengal has sent a senior minister for the meet.
According to the sources, the prime minister while
addressing the conference, told the states, "We have to fight
together, we are with you and issues of development have to be
dealt with together."
The meet also cleared the governments' proposal to
fund the establishment and strengthening of 400 police
stations in the affected districts at the rate of Rs two crore
per police station on 80:20 basis over a period of two years.
PTI Team
RBT