Chidambaram pats State police for successful operations

Strap: Raises concern over casualty

VIJAY DEO JHA / MANOHAR LAL

Ranchi 

Terming some of the major anti-naxal operations conducted in Jharkhand between June and October as successful Union Home Minister P Chidambaram expressed his concern over “unacceptably high rate of casualty of security forces and civilians which needed to be reduced.”

“Greater steps needed to be taken in Jharkhand and the Centre will extend all logistic support to the State. Jharkhand should act with more vigour and planning to meet the challenges,” Chidambaram told the media after holding a high level review meeting with Chief Minister Arjun Munda and senior officials of the state government on Wednesday.

Sources said that Chidambaram matched the report of number of casualties in Jharkhand in the said five months -- total 26 the report he had carried with him. Chidambaram pulled the State officials for not starting recruitment drive of the vacant posts of police constables and sought and directed to set a deadline to complete it. Chidambaram also expressed concern over the failure of the State police to stop Maoists from running Jan Adalat, kangaroo courts, which he said, had been on rise in Jharkhand.   

Chidambaram said that 130 police stations in Jharkhand are badly affected by red rebels. “Around 13,000 security forces of 14 battalions of the CRPF and two CoBRA battalion are engaged in anti-naxal operation and equal number of regular state police forces,” he said.

He informed that the Centre has provided Rs 55 crore to each of 14 naxal hit districts under Integrated Action Plan for the development purposes. So far, the performance and the development of these districts under IAP in terms of physical achievement and financial achievement is 50 and 55 percent respectively. “It should have been 70 per cent at the end of the month of November. I hope the state will be able to use hundred percent funds by March, next year,” he said.

“I have reviewed strategic details of the operation and also ongoing development works. Jharkhand is a naxal hit State and the Centre will extend all support to the government,” he added.

Speaking to the media, Chief Minister Arjun Munda said that several issues related with naxal problem and development works were discussed in the meeting. Though, he refused to divulge whether the state government placed any specific demand and support before the Home Minister.