Journalism of Courage
Maharashtra Government was in the process of launching an anti-Naxal operation in coordination with neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh,the Assembly was informed today.
The state has three battalions of Central paramilitary forces at its disposal and policemen have been provided with necessary training and equipped with sophisticated weapons,Home Minister R R Patil said.
In a written reply to a calling attention motion moved by Sudhakar Deshmukh (BJP) and others,who wanted to know what steps had been initiated to tackle the menace,he said there has been a spurt in Maoist activities in Gadchiroli district.
At least 17 policemen were killed in a Naxal attack in Bhamragarh taluka of the district in October. A young road contractor was killed by a group of Naxalites on November 25.
The Minister informed the House that 52 policemen were killed by Naxalites between February and May this year. The extremists were also disrupting developmental activities and terrorising contractors working in deep forests.
They were not even sparing teachers and misguiding the youth,Patil said,adding there have been instances of the ultras snatching arms and ammunition of Forest Department employees while they were on patrolling duty.
