Set up unified command in four Maoist hit states: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI - Home Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday said that Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal should coordinate their anti-Maoist operations and form a Unified Command with a retired major general of the Indian Army as its member.

“The central government acknowledges the primary role and responsibility of the state governments in enforcing law and order and in confronting the challenge of left wing extremism,” Chidambaram said in his opening remarks at the meeting of Maoist affected states chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here.

He said the government “will request the state governments of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal to create a Unified Command for anti-naxal operations and appoint a retired major general of the army as a member of the command”.

The home minister said the four states will be asked to appoint an inspector general of police as IG anti-naxal operations for that state and appoint an inspector general of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as IG operations and the two should work in close coordination.

Chidambaram said the central government acknowledged its role and responsibility in assisting the state governments “in every way - deploying central para-military forces, sharing intelligence, funding the modernisation of police forces and providing logistics and other support”.

He said the central government will provide more helicopters for logistics support, troop movement, supplies and evacuation. It will also fund the establishment and strengthening of 400 police stations in the affected districts and give Rs.2 crore for each police station.

The government has also sanctioned additional special police officers in the Maoist affected states.

The home minister said road connectivity in 34 districts most affected by left wing extremism will be improved and a number of roads and bridges are proposed to be built at a cost of Rs.950 crore.

The Planning Commission, he said, “is considering a special development plan for the affected districts with emphasis on road connectivity, primary education, primary health care and drinking water”.