The Hindu : National : Centre moots Unified Command in naxal-affected States

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Sunday, Feb 06, 2005

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Centre moots Unified Command in naxal-affected States

By Vinay Kumar

ON BOARD THE SPECIAL AIRCRAFT, FEB. 5. The Centre has mooted the setting up of a Unified Command in each of the nine naxalite violence-affected States on the lines of Jammu and Kashmir and Assam.

Talking to reporters while returning from Kanpur on board a Border Security Force aircraft, the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, said the Unified Command would be headed by the Chief Minister of the State, would have senior officials of the Central paramilitary forces and the State police in it.

Mr. Patil said that it would help tackle the naxal violence effectively in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

To a question on the withdrawal of the naxalite groups from the peace talks initiated by the Andhra Pradesh Government, Mr. Patil said the Centre was for continuing the dialogue.

At the same time the State Government had been asked not to allow any let-up on the law and order front.

On the killing of the Telugu Desam MLA, Paritala Ravi, he said he had listened to the representations on all sides but the Centre would not interfere.

The most important factor in the naxalite-affected States was that the majority of the population had realised the futility of violence.

"People have come around to the view that there can be no development without security and peace. This is even more important than economic development and social justice in these States."

Mr. Patil said the Centre was keeping a close watch on Nepal and the utmost vigil was being maintained in the States bordering the Himalayan kingdom.

Earlier in the day, he unveiled a statue of the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, and laid the foundation stone for the Jagran College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Kanpur.

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