PM meets chief minister of Maoist affected states

NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday met the chief ministers of Maoist affected states to review government policy and discuss strategy to counter one of the greatest internal security threats to India.

Attending the meeting at the prime minister’s 7, Race Course Road residence are the chief ministers of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, the governor of Jharkhand, which is under president’s rule, and a minister from West Bengal.

Besides Manmohan Singh, Home Minister P. Chidambaram will also address the meeting. The prime minister will hear detailed reports from the chief ministers on the prevailing situation in Maoist-hit areas of their states, an official said.

Sources said the meeting will look into proposals for more funds to the state government to strengthen policing in the worst hit areas. The government is also likely to sanction more helicopters for greater mobility of security forces in anti-Maoist operations.

Along with tightening of security measures, the prime minister is expected to offer special developmental incentives for these states to wean away people in the affected areas from the influence of left wing extremists, the official said. Jobs, financial assistance, educational and health facilities will be the focus.

The meeting comes in the backdrop of increasing violence from Maoists. In the past few months, the guerrillas have killed security personnel, special police officers (SPOs) and civilians, branding some of them as police informers.

In the worst-ever Maoist attack, the Leftist rebels shot dead 75 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and a state police constable in Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh April 6.