CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday called for concerted and coordinated action by southern States on both the security and development fronts to ensure that Maoist activity was not allowed to take root in the region.
She made this suggestion in her address at the 26th meeting of the Southern Zonal Council at Vijayawada, read out by TN Finance Minister O Panneerselvam. On the movement of Maoists in the tri-junction area of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, she said their presence had been sighted there since 2013 and Tamil Nadu had been taking proactive steps to curb this.
“Combing operations have been intensified and as a result five Maoists have been arrested. The local police stations have been strengthened and the Forces have been augmented to meet the challenges. Tamil Nadu government has already requested the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to include Nilgiris district in the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) list”.
“Collectors of districts adjoining Western Ghats have been sensitised to conduct mass contact meetings in tribal villages and to address their grievances relating to livelihood and infrastructure. Further, the Government is implementing Special programmes in the Districts of Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul and The Nilgiris, for developing these districts”, CM added.