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Shivraj Patil justifies use of force against naxalites

Special Correspondent

Calls for coordinated approach to tackle the menace

HYDERABAD: The Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has justified the use of force against naxalites saying the measure will be effective in tackling the menace as the last resort after options of economic development and dialogue are exhausted.

Speaking to reporters after reviewing the passing-out parade by 151 trainee sub-inspectors at the National Industrial Security Academy (NISA) at Hakimpet here on Saturday, Mr. Patil said a coordinated approach between Central and State Governments and people were required to address the problem.

One of the methods that could be adopted in the process was economic development. The next step could be to enter into a dialogue with naxal leaders. "If economic development and dialogue are not helping, we have to use our forces effectively," he said.

Mr. Patil said the Centre did not wish to impose its ideas on State Governments at the meeting of the Chief Ministers of naxalite-affected States on Monday. The Centre would hear them and see how best they could implement a coordinated approach. The Chief Ministers would be assured of all help by the Centre.

He also said the domain of activity of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) would be expanded to cover disaster management and security of VVIPs. He described the CISF as the most disciplined force which was in demand both within and outside the country.

Earlier, addressing the trainee SIs, he said the CISF would play a pivotal role in providing security at the airports whose numbers would increase three or four fold in the next decade. The volume of domestic and international flights would also take a quantum jump.

Mr. Patil asked the CISF to prepare itself to meet contingencies such as tsunami, earthquake and floods as disaster management would also form part of its profile.

P.V. Krishna Reddy, Director, NISA, said the CISF personnel guarded industrial wealth worth over Rs. 1 lakh crore. The force had a strength of 94,000 and provided security to 262 establishments. The Director-General of CISF, S.I.S. Ahmed, was also present. The Home Minister presented the trophy instituted by the Ministry of Urban Development to trainee sub-inspector, Gaurav Kumar, who was adjudged the best all-rounder.

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