Reeling under a wave of Naxal attacks, especially after the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh effected a ceasefire and called Left wing extremists for talks, worried state police chiefs today sought clear directions from the Centre on how were they expected to deal with the problem. But Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, responding to queries from DGPs at a special session on Left wing extremism, said it was for the states to individually deal with the Naxalite problem. The Centre, he maintained, could not provide any directions in this regard. He cited the example of Kashmir where security forces were going after militants while the political leadership was keeping channels open for talks. Most DGPs, attending the special session in the Capital, said they did not approve of Andhra’s move to open talks with the People’s War Group while the cadres were still armed. According to them, not much could be hoped from these talks. Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, while addressing the DGPs later, expressed concern over the rise in Left wing extremism and its spread over 150 districts. ‘‘Large swathes of tribal territory from Andhra Pradesh in the South to the borders of UP and Bengal in the North and East have become hunting grounds of Left wing extremists,’’ he pointed out. DGPs of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra sought details on modalities of the ongoing talks between Andhra government and the Naxalites. They wanted the Andhra government to share details of the talks with Naxals, who the interlocutors were and the conditions being laid down. These questions were raised at the special session attended by Patil, Special Advisor to PM M K Narayanan, National Security Advisor J N Dixit, Home Secretary Dhirendra Singh and Director Intelligence Bureau A K Doval. Chhattisgarh DGP O P Rathore said that his state had a clear cut policy: talks with Naxals only after they lay down arms. ‘‘Actually there is nothing to talk. These people are ruthless. They are killing poor and innocent people and indulging in extortion,’’ Rathore told The Indian Express. He said most states affected by Left wing extremism had similar views. ‘‘The country has never witnessed internal insurgency of this extent, spread over such a large geographical area. And what we can see is only the tip of the iceberg. Tough measures are required to tackle it,’’ he said. Police chiefs were all for exchanging information and drawing up strategies for better coordination. ‘‘It is alarming the way Naxalites are spreading their activities, right from the Nepal border down to parts of Kerala now. New mergers are happening, axis are being formed. Foreign elements are supporting them,’’ an IGP from one of the affected states said. Uttaranchal DGP Kanchan Chaudhary wanted her state included in the category of affected states since Naxal activities had begun there. ‘‘There are some districts like Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital, Almora and Champavat where Naxal activities have been noticed. We arrested some people from the jungles and also recovered Left wing literature. So far, we have not noticed any link with the Nepal Maoists but we want to nip it in the bud,’’ Chaudhary old The Indian Express. Andhra Pradesh DGP P Sukumar maintained that his police continued to take action against the Naxals and that no directions had been issued to let the extremists get away. Sukumar’s assertions were contrary to the situation on the ground in Andhra Pradesh. Key officers who had spearheaded the crackdown on Naxals have been shunted out and all operations have been suspended by the YSR Reddy government.
