Concerned that Left-wing extremists could launch more offensives similar to the one three days ago at Bokaro that killed 14 police personnel, the Centre has told Jharkhand to submit a status report of the action plan to combat Naxalites that was formulated several months ago.

A three-member team led by additional secretary Vinay Kumar in the Home Ministry told the state Government in no uncertain terms yesterday that any strategy to tackle Left-wing insurgency has to be “specific and pinpointed” that will identify the vulnerable zones as also the requirement of security forces to be deployed.

Chief Minister Madhu Koda has also been summoned for a meeting on the issue with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on December 8. Discussions will be held on the action plan, utilisation of funds and specific requirements of the state to come to grips with the situation.

The Centre is worried because Jharkhand is one of the worst affected states. During the current year till October, there were 239 incidents in the state that involved the killing of 28 police personnel, 71 civilians and 18 extremists. But it is nowhere near Chhattisgarh that has begun to implement a vigorous operational strategy including the use of helicopters and unamanned aerial vehicles.

As an instance of the halfhearted attitude of the state, sources claimed that the landmine blast at Bokaro could have been prevented had the norms issued to security forces deployed in these regions been followed. Apparently, the special task force personnel was blown off when they drove the vehicle over a patch of non-concrete road that is generally not done by central security forces for fear of landmines.

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