BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said Left wing extremist violence is not confined to the State or the country but an international phenomenon.
The increasing Maoist activities is a matter of great concern as the Red rebels are not only kidnapping civilians and killing police personnel but also targeting schools, panchayat building and other infrastructure facilities like mobile towers.
Replying to the demand discussion on the Home Department, the Chief Minister said plans were afoot to raise two more India Reserve Battalions which will undertake construction of roads and other infrastructure activities to improve better connectivity in the Maoist-affected areas.
The Government has taken new initiatives to encourage the Maoists to give up violence and join the mainstream of society by revising the existing surrender and rehabilitation schemes. Apart from financial assistance, vocational training is provided to build capacity of the surrendered Maoists. Stipend of ` 2,000 per month is provided to the trainees during the training period.
Naveen said 70 fortified police stations would be constructed in the Naxal-affected areas and these police stations would be well-equipped for anti-Maoist operations.
To a query from Prasad Harichandan of Congress, Naveen said 18 commissions of inquiry have been constituted from 2000 to 2012. Seven commissions have submitted their reports out of which five reports had been laid in the Assembly along with the action taken report.