Karnataka says Maoist menace almost eliminated

NEW DELHI - Karnataka Tuesday said that it has “almost eliminated” the Maoist menace from the state though “a handful of individuals” are still active.

“I am happy to state that due to the relentless efforts on the part of the Anti-Naxal (Anti-Maoists) force of the Karnataka Police, this menace has been almost eliminated but for a handful of individuals,” Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa was quoted as saying in his speech at the chief ministers’ conference on internal security here.

“These few members are not going to be a potential threat,” he said in the speech read out by state Home Minister R. Ashok.

The speech listed the measures taken by the state government in providing security cover in Bangalore, the nation’s IT hub, modernizing police force and strengthening coastal security.

It also gave details of the socio-economic measures “to bring the handful of youth who might be influenced by the Naxal philosophy to the mainstream society”.

The state government has “a Naxal Surrender Policy to award monetary compensation” to help surrendered Maoists to be gainfully employed.

Ashok said since “Bangalore, the largest IT/BT hub in the entire country, has become an important target to the anti-national forces”, the state government, he noted, has taken the services of a Brigadier of the Indian Army “to establish a commando training school at Bangalore for providing specialized commando training to selected police personnel.”

Ashok called for “integrated and coordinated effort” to face the threats of enemies from within and outside the country.

“These divisive forces mainly draw their strengths and sustenance from outside the country as well as from some anti-national elements within the country. We need to set aside narrow political considerations and tackle these threats to our national unity, he said.