The Chhattisgarh government has asked the police department to stop releasing to media all reports of Naxal attacks on security forces in the interests of the police force and the people.The Home department, in a confidential circular to the DGP and the district administration, has asked them to ‘‘ensure that reports relating to Naxal violence against policemen are not published in the newspapers’’.The Home department circular says ‘‘as per the order, the undersigned requests you to ensure that the photographs and news relating to Naxal attacks on police are not published for the interest of the public, police administration, police force and people’s morale and (for) maintaining a fearless atmosphere’’.Confirming the circular, a Home department official said: ‘‘If such reports, involving Naxal attacking policemen, are published in the media, then that would adversely affect the morale of the police force, common men and also the affected families’’. The Naxalites would be encouraged by such reports whereas on the other hand, the campaign to eradicate the Naxal menace and carry out development works could be affected, the official said.The police headquarters has issued the instructions to the SPs of the Naxal-affected districts — nine of the 16 — to comply with the orders, a senior official said.
