(a) whether it is a fact that a Joint Coordination Committee of top Central and State Police and intelligence wing officers on Naxalism was held at Bhubaneshwar recently;
(b) if so, the details of the discussion held in the meeting; and
(c) the strategies to be adopted to curb Naxalite activities in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI I.D.SWAMI )
(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. The high powered Coordination Centre Meeting under the chairmanship of the Union Home Secretary was held at Bhubaneshwar on 21.11.2003 in which left wing extremist scenario in the country was discussed in detail. In the meeting, it was decided inter-alia to deploy CRPF on a long-term basis. There will be institutionalized mechanisms to enable coordinated and sustained anti-naxalite operations. The State Governments have been asked to encourage local resistance groups against the naxalites and make full use of Rs. 2475.00 crores to be provided by the Central Government to the 55 LWE affected districts over the next three years for their integrated development.
(c): The Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to tackle the problem of left wing extremism which includes modernization and strengthening of the State Police forces, better training to Police personnel, deployment of CPMFs on a long term basis, streamlining of gathering and sharing of actionable intelligence, Special Task Forces for intelligence based anti-naxalite operations, focused attention on development aspect and grearing up of the public grievances redressal system and encouraging resistance groups against the naxalites at the grass roots level.