Security up at Nepal border

The Centre has increased deployment of security forces at the Indo-Nepal border in the wake of Maoists killing 18 policemen in UP’s Cha...

The Centre has increased deployment of security forces at the Indo-Nepal border in the wake of Maoists killing 18 policemen in UP’s Chandauli district.

Though counted among the states affected by Left-wing Extremism, UP had so far not received much attention from the Centre because naxal violence was among the lowest here. Sources in the Home Ministry disclosed that the naxal attack in UP took both, the state and the Centre by surprise.

The Home Ministry has now further strengthened vigil at the Indo-Nepal border and sent additional forces of the SSB, specially in the UP region. Sources said that a battalion strength (1,100) of personnel had been sent to reinforce the patrolling. Already there are 16 battalions of SSB deployed to guard India’s borders with Nepal.

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Sources said links between Nepal Maoists and Naxal groups like MCCI and PWG were becoming stronger. ‘‘CPN (Maoist) of Nepal has increased its activities in the Tarai region of Nepal bordering India. There is a regular exchange of men and material between CPN (Maoist) and Indian Naxal outfits,’’ an official disclosed.

The Home Ministry had offered all possible assistance to the UP government. ‘‘We have asked the state police to reinforce security near Ratnagarh police station. The Intelligence Bureau has also been asked to provide more actionable inputs to the state government, and coordinate with UP’s intelligence agencies,’’ the official said.

UP has been asked to build local intelligence capabilities in terms of gathering and sharing mechanisms. ‘‘The police force needed to be specially trained and well equipped to facilitate effective action in a coordinated and sustained manner,’’ he said. The state had also been asked to expedite developmental work in the affected areas.