NEW DELHI: Sending out a warning that Kerala might witness an increase in Naxal activities, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked the state’s Oommen Chandy-led UDF Government to take immediate preventive measures to keep in check the spread of Left- wing Extremism(LWE) in the state.
Pointing out that the situation in Kerala could turn serious, in a note on action plan to combat LWE, the MHA said the Maoists have been focusing on the Southern states like Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The MHA note also dealt in detail with the measures that the Centre has been planning under the draft national policy to tackle the Naxal issues.
According to it, the MHA consultation with all the stakeholders would devise a comprehensive plan on various modifications required in the security-related expenditure, which would then be put before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
“The state governments will play a more proactive role through more intensive and regular coordination. There will be frequent interactions between bordering states, besides one-on-one meetings at the highest political level,” the MHA note said.
The ministry admitted that despite the apparent decline in Maoist violence since 2011, the core military strength of the extremists still remains intact in the 23 districts and their adjoining areas worst hit by the Naxal menace
“Sustained anti-Maoist operations have not dented the capability of the CPI Maoists to inflict significant damage on the security forces and civilians at the place and time of their choice,” it said.
In order to improve the effectiveness of the state forces, 18 counter-insurgency and anti-terrorism schools have been sanctioned for the LWE-hit states, of which 16 have become operational.
The MHA has also advised the states to set up crack teams modelled on the lines of the Special Intelligence Branch set up by Andhra Pradesh to deal with the Naxal menace. The ministry would earmark 10 per cent of police modernisation funds to the intelligence department of the states concerned to meet their financial requirements for the next three fiscal.