Udupi, June 18, 2013,
Home Minister chairs review meet of devt works in 7 naxal affected districts
Home Minister K J George said that the ministry will henceforth look into effective delivery of naxal surrender package and also naxal rehabilitation package.
The Home Minister K J George, while speaking to the media persons after the review meet said that development works in seven naxal affected districts and new naxal surrender packages were the outline of the meet on Tuesday, June 18.
Home minister said there are around 30 naxels are in the state and five members were surrendered. He said government is committed to provide them facilities and ready for an open talk. The surrender package will now offer them better amount. The surrendering amount will be hiked from Rs 2 lakhs to Rs 5 lakhs and surrendering one piece of AK 47 will be paid Rs 15000 which further increased up to to Rs. 30,000.
Referring to CMs plea to the central over considering Karnataka as naxal affected state, the home minister said that CM’s demand is justifiable as the state needs and for more funds to rehabilitate the naxal.
Anti Naxal Force will be changed as anti terror squad (ATS). At present KSRPF forces are used to handle both terror and Maoists insurgency. Home minister said the home ministry is contemplating on the change of the name and henceforth ANF will be or anti terror special force.
The home minister added that the basic salary for the police men working in the special force will be increased under Police Act 2006.As per which the basic salary is hiked to Rs 1200 from Rs 300. He said there is shortage of police personnel in the state, however immediate measures are taken to recruit around 8000 police personnel. Around 4000 to 5000 houses will be allotted to the police men.
He added that when other affected states are taking stringent action against the Maoists, there are possibilities of them making an entry into Karnataka. The government always welcomes the Maoists to hold talks. Besides, the Maoist sympathisers are appealed to act as catalysts between the government and Maoists. They should convince the Maoists to come forward to deliberate on the problems and their demands. The sympathisers should take up the initiative to be the link. He said the surrender package is now doubled. The most backward and tribal areas are prone to Maoist menace. Special drive is launched. Besides Forest Department is involved in the process of development in the Maoist affected regions.
The shelter facilities and employment opportunities for the surrendered Maoists and also the people in the affected areas are the priority of the new policies, he added.
Stating that the previous government was against the idea of declaring Karnataka as the Maoist-affected state, the home minister said the previous government was under the threat that if Karnataka is declared as the Maoist-affected state, it will lose the profitable investments from the industrial giants. There was a need of sufficient amount to rehabilitate the Maoist affected regions, he said.
There are plenty of problems that calls for the attention in these areas. He said companies like Tata and others are invited to train the surrendered Maoists for skilled labour training. The self employable ITI courses like tailoring, electrical works, winding, carpentry, sculpting, painting and so on will be made available. The orders will be issued to respective District Commissioners. There are plans to offer credit linked facilities to the surrendered Maoists in the days to come.
Stating that there needs debate in the Cabinet over Justice Somashekhar Commission’s final report on Church attack, the home minister said that the interim report of the Justice Somashekhar Commission had offended certain issues and also personalities for the Church attack in this region. However, the final report that appeared was totally against the interim report. Hence, there needs serious contemplation over the authenticity of the final report before implementing the recommendations made in the report. It might have come out under certain pressures, he added.
He also launched the CCTV project in District Police Office control room on the occasion.
He Inaugurated CCTV project at Udupi Control room, Lalrukmo Pachav (DGP), Vinay Kumar Sorake (District Incharge), V. Umesh (Home secretary), and Alok Mohon
(ADGP) were present.
Visit to Cong office
Earlier during his visit to the District Congress Office, the home minister said he was delighted on his maiden visit to the temple town after assuming office. Addressing the Congress workers, he said service to the society should be the only motto of the Congressmen to reach the high expectations of the people in state. Congress might have achieved success, however the Congress men should not forget that the corruptions and misdeeds of BJP government have ensured Congress victory, he said quoting the Congress supremo Sonia Gandhi. The State government aims at transparent and corruption-free government. Congress which is the only secular party in the state is initiating a new era which is totally committed towards the betterment of the people.
Stating that the police department and the officials in state are directed to be pro poor, the home minister said the police officials are directed to register complaints that come to them and initiate the inquiry. It is not the entire set up that is corrupt. There are few corrupt officials in the department who malign the system. Stringent measures are taken to curb all sorts of illegal activities. Failures on the part of the department officials will also be not tolerated. He also assured to look in to the demand for second exclusive women police station in the district.
