New Delhi:
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is chairing a crucial meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday that is aimed at giving more teeth to the fight against red terror.
The day-long meeting is being attended by the Chief Ministers of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar. Jharkhand, which is under President's Rule, will be represented by its Governor.
Several key proposals that are likely to be cleared at the meeting are:
* Unified Command for all Naxal-affected states
* Retired Major Generals to be appointed as advisors
* Unified Command to be headed by Chief Secretaries
* Rs 2 crore each for 400 police stations to improve facilities
Home Minister P Chidambaram in his opening remarks at the meeting said, "In the light of the experience gained in the last six months, we have reviewed the level of support that we can provide to the state governments and we have decided to provide more helicopters for logistics support, troop movement, supplies and evacuation."
PTI adds that the plan to redeploy paramilitary forces engaged in anti-Naxal operations and development schemes undertaken under the aegis of the Planning Commission are also expected to be discussed threadbare.
Home Minister P Chidambaram will brief the Chief Ministers about the government's plans and seek their suggestions.
The Prime Minister, who had described the Naxal menace as a grave threat to internal security, will address the Chief Ministers and hear their views on the issue.
The meeting comes in the wake of a spurt in Naxal attacks. The ultras have killed at least 100 policemen in Chhattisgarh since April and derailed an express train in West Bengal that claimed the lives of nearly 150 people.
Government has been maintaining that accelerated development and calibrated police action are the two pillars of its anti-Naxal policy.
Chidambaram had said that on both fronts, the primary responsibility rests with the state governments though the Centre will offer all help.
According to an estimate, about 40,000 sq km area in the Naxal-affected states is under the control of Maoists.
Naxal violence has claimed the lives of over 10,000 civilians and security personnel in the last five years.
Out of a total of 10,268 casualties between 2005 and May 2010, 2,372 deaths have been reported in 2009 as against 1,769 in 2008 and 1,737 in 2007.
Besides, Naxals targeted 362 telephone towers, many school buildings, roads, culverts etc. in 2009 alone. (With PTI Inputs)