Pressure Groups Being Roped in to Tackle Naxal Threat

The state government is in discussions with social pressure groups to act as mediators for the surrender of naxals, Home Minister K J George said on Wednesday.

“These pressure groups are mediating on the process of surrendering,” he said after holding a meeting with police officials at Inspector General of Police (western range) office. The government is extending all support to help naxals join the mainstream. “Our efforts may yield results soon,” he added. George said, the Police Department will recruit 8,500 personnel and 20 per cent of them will be women.

There are plans to set up 35 police stations in the state and an announcement will be made in the budget, he said. Responding to a query, he said the Konkan railways had not responded to Police Department’s proposal on providing protection to passengers despite increasing cases of commuters being drugged and robbed.

The Home Department intends to involve Home Guards to assist the police and they will receive a higher honorarium of Rs 250 per day.

Additional Director General of Police (Internal Security) Sunil Kumar said, 120 personnel of Centre to Counter Terrorism (CCT) were trained by an officer of National Security Guards (NSG). The trained personnel will be available 24X7, he said.

Coastal Security Police Station

George on Wednesday inaugurated the new Coastal Security Police Station at Hejamadi in Udupi district.

Speaking on the occasion, he said following the Mumbai attack, security of coastal areas is being given priority.  Minister for Fisheries Abhayachandra Jain said he will lead a delegation to Union Minister Sharad Pawar on Monday to request him to release grants for development of a port at Hejamadi.

He said the Rs 150 crore Fisheries Harbour at Kulai is awaiting environmental clearance from the Centre.

Sports Facilities Inaugurated

The Home Minister inaugurated the 400 metre synthetic track, laid at a cost of Rs 4.06 crore, at the Mahatma Gandhi Stadium in Ajjarkad.

Minister for Youth Empowerment and Sports Abhayachandra Jain said a Rs 3.5 crore swimming pool has been sanctioned at Ajjarkad and Rs 85 lakh has been released in the first phase.

Udupi MLA Pramod Madhwaraj thanked the Sports Minister for sanctioning Rs 42 lakh for relaying the wooden floor at the indoor stadium. He said the wooden flooring laid just a few years ago had to be removed due to poor quality of work.

Do Not Disturb Peace: George

Mangalore: Home Minister K J George said no one can be stopped from visiting areas in Ullal town which had witnessed communal clashes recently. But maintaining peace will be their responsibility. “Giving provocative speeches or indulging in activities that tend to disturb law and order will not be tolerated,” he said and lauded the Police Department for doing a good job so far. He claimed that Ullal returned to normalcy due to strict measures taken by the department. Responding to a query on the arrest of innocent people in connection with clashes in Ullal, he said the department is investigating the charges. “No innocent person will be harmed,” he assured.