Security sought for engineers in Maoist-hit areas

LUCKNOW - An association of engineers in Uttar Pradesh proposes seeking security for those working in Maoist-infested districts of the state, officials said Tuesday.

The decision by the Uttar Pradesh Engineers’ Association (UPEA) to handover a representation in this regard to the state government comes in the wake of life threats issued by Naxalites to engineers associated with various developmental projects being taken up in Maoist-affected districts of Uttar Pradesh, particularly Sonbhadra.

“Naxalites are thwarting our engineers’ efforts aimed at developing a particular region by creating problems for them. They are even threatening our colleagues of dire consequences, pressurising them to not take up developmental projects in the desired manner,” UPEA president A.A. Farooqui told reporters here Tuesday.

According to UPEA, apart from Sonbhadra, engineers working in Chandauli, Mirzapur, Kushinagar and Deoria districts have also complained about Maoist threats.

Additional Director General (Law and Order) Brij Lal, however, told reporters: “The issue has yet not been reported to me by the engineers’ association. To my knowledge, no one has approached the police. Still, if the engineers are facing any kind of problems related to their security, we would ensure they are sorted out at the earliest.”