Addressing the Chief Minister’s Conference to discuss Internal Security, Dr Reddy said Left extremism had been in existance for the last four decades with the People’s War Group being the dominant group. The emergence of Maoist Party in 2004 was the turning point because it provided an all India network and stature as a revolutionary party, he said.
The traditional land issues taken up by the naxalites were replaced by issues like globalisation and establishment of Special Economic Zones and displacement of population. The result was that their rural appeal had come down excepting in areas where construction, irrigation, mining and industrial activities were taking place.
AP, he said had evolved two organisations-- Special Intelligence Bureau to collect information on top cadres and be the nodal agency for anti-extremist policy and Grey Hounds, the commando units specially trained in jungle warfare. The success of both these agancies were significant with many top ranking underground leaders arrested or killed in encounters by the SIB.
He said in jungle areas, the Grey Hounds had neutralised several armed squads. However, the problem was not confined to AP, but beyond the states like Orissa and Chhattisgarh where Maoists were operating with all India command structure, whereas the states pursued different strategies with different levels of fighting.
Rewarding those who helped neutralisation of underground extremists with ex-gratia payments and employment to the dependant family member of victims was yielding good results.
Action plan was prepared for implementation of various developmental programmes like distribution of land, providing employment to unemployed youth, infrastructure facilities -- road connectivity, protected drinking water, construction of schools, colleges and hostels and electrification of remote rural areas to check extremist activities, the AP CM added.
Most derived support from poverty, hunger and lack of gainful employment as development was the best weapon to win the hearts, he said.He said the Government had given rights to 1,81,919 eligible tribal families to the extent of 12,71,729 acres of land till under the Traditional Dwellers Act 2006. The Government had initiated land development at 120,000 crore under NREGP for tribal families in the lands given to them. Rubber planationaton in 31,000 acres were taken to benefit 15,000 tribal population at the cost of 150 crore and coffee plantation in 1.04 lakh acrese to benefit 100,000 tribal families.
Talking on Lashkar terror, he said the last offence was in August 2007, in which 24 people were killed in twin blasts and the Government responded by creating an anti-terror commando organisation -- Octopus to function on the lines of NSG. The training for Octopus was nearing completion and the teams would be ready in a few days and would be deployed in important cities to protect iconic targets.
Dr Reddy said the state had 1000 km long coastline close to Bangladesh and Myanmar. The coast also had several vital installations like Sriharikota, Eastern Naval Command, Krishna Godavari basin and several major and minor ports. The state had set up six Marine Police Stations in the first phase and the Centre had provided funds for housing Police Stations, purchas of vehicles.
The infrastructure was very meager and the personnel have to be equipped with speedboats and other necessary gadgets, he added.
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