UP lauds central help in fighting Naxals

Verma said measures were being taken to check Naxal activities,which is evident from the latest arrests made by the STF from different parts of the state. The state government was giving special attention to effectively check the menace,he added.

“Besides coordinated action with the neighboring state for action against Naxals,the intelligence units are being strengthened — resulting in no Naxal activity in the state since 2004,” said Verma.

Efforts are also on for the all-round development of Naxal-affected areas and to bring the people there in the mainstream. To win the confidence of locals and instill a sense of security,community policing is being promoted in these areas,the minister said.

Earlier,Radhey Mohan Agarwal expressed serious concern over the arrest of Naxals in the last couple of days from areas other than those identified as Naxal-infested in the state. ‘Arrests have been made from Gorakhpur,Allahabad and Kanpur which are not identified as Naxal-infested. Besides,ADG Brij Lal has also stated that Naxal activities were on the rise in Azamgarh,Deoria,Ghazipur and Ballia though as per government records,only three districts — Sonebhadra,Mirzapur and Chandauli — are affected by Naxalism,” he said.

Taking a shot at human rights organisations,the BJP member said those who had come to the rescue of the Students Islamic Movement of India,after it was banned,are the same people and organisations now opposing the arrests of Naxals — terming it as a violation of human rights.