Chhattisgarh's fight against Naxals has got a boost with Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil announcing the creation of a Unified Command, headed by Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh and comprising officials of the Central and state governments, to tackle the growing menace in the state. Patil also promised five additional battalions of Central paramilitary forces, raising of more India Reserve Battalions and armoured vehicles for anti-Maoist operations.

Patil’s announcement came immediately after a meeting held at the Raj Bhawan here on Thursday night on the anti-Maoist strategy to be adopted in the state.

The meeting was attended by Chhattisgarh Governor E S L Narasimhan, Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam, Chief Secretary Shivraj Singh, Union Special Secretary (Internal Security) M L Kumawat, CRPF DG S I S Ahmad, Principal Secretary (Home) N K Aswal and Director General of Police Vishwaranjan.

Sources said the decision was also prompted by reports of differences over the style of functioning of the Central and state police forces and the lack of coordination between them. “Though 13 battalions of Central forces have been deployed for anti-Naxal operations, with the operational command under the State DGP, there have been differences in the operational aspects,” the sources confirmed.

The strategic location of the state, which lies at the centre of the Maoists “red zone” and borders several other Naxalite-affected states like Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, also played an important part in taking this decision. Apart from this, sources said the growing number of violence and reports of four operational training camps in the Bastar region helped the Centre seal the decision.

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