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| India-Pakistan |
| Indian gov't to intensify anti-Naxalite operations |
| 2013-05-29 |
| The Indian government on Tuesday said that anti-Naxalite operations in affected states, including the central state of Chhattisgarh, would be stepped up through the deployment of more paramilitary security forces and modern weapons, but ruled out using the Army to tackle the left-wing insurgency. "We will coordinate with Naxal-hit states adjoining Chhattisgarh and forces and modern weapons would be provided by the central government for anti-Naxalite operations," Indian Home Secretary R.K. Singh told the media in state capital Raipur. However, he has ruled out using the Indian Army to flush out the left-wing rebels from at least seven states where Naxalites are active. "We will not involve the Army. There is no need to call the Army. Neither have we asked them. But we will send more ( paramilitary) forces," Singh added. The home secretary's statement came barely two days after the government ordered the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe Saturday's brutal attacks on a convoy of India's ruling Congress party by the left-wing rebels in Chhattisgarh, in which 25 people were killed and 32 injured. A group of 250 armed Naxalites ambushed the convoy at Dharba valley through which it was traveling following a party's campaign rally, wiping out the entire top Congress leadership of the state, including Chhattisgarh's party chief Nandkumar Patel, his son, and local leader Mahendra Karma who had ignited a campaign against the left-wing rebels. The Naxalites have been operating in at least seven Indian states, including Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, for the last 40 years. The Indian prime minister had earlier described Naxalite insurgency as the country's biggest internal security threat. |
| Posted by:Pappy |