NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu Government has urged the Centre to reimburse security-related expenditure (SRE) incurred by it tackling the "spillover" of naxalite activities from neighbouring Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Making out a case for reimbursement under the SRE scheme under which only terrorism and naxal-affected States qualify, the Tamil Nadu Government said it had increased surveillance along the border areas and mounted extra vigil to ward off any possibility of naxal activities taking root in the State. Tamil Nadu's argument was that it should not be penalised for doing "good work, vigilant policing and playing an active role" on the naxal front.

The issue was discussed at the Coordination Centre meeting on naxalism here which was attended by Chief Secretaries and police chiefs of 13 States and presided over by Union Home Secretary.

The demand for reimbursement, raised by the Tamil Nadu Government, however, failed to come under the purview of the SRE scheme, leaving little scope for the Home Ministry to consider it under the present scheme.

Karnataka officials informed the meeting that the State police had applied "considerable pressure" on naxal cadres found to be active in 13 districts and the situation in the State was under control. It also demanded mine-proof "Rakshak" vehicles for patrolling in the affected areas.

Sources said the Kerala Government appeared concerned over left-wing extremist activities being noticed in two districts of north Kerala. Arguing that the State police force was already overworked, Kerala demanded that its police personnel be trained by "Greyhounds", the specialised commando unit of Andhra Pradesh.

Home Ministry sources said the overall assessment was that naxals were on the run in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

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