CCS nod to anti-naxal plan

New Delhi
Oct. 8: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Thursday approved the home ministry’s action plan for anti-naxal operations in states affected by Left wing
extremism.
The anti-naxal operations will be carried out in 20 states over a two-year period laying special emphasis on the Maoists’ pockets of influence, government sources said. The operations will be led by the local police and Special Task Force of the naxal-hit states and assisted by the central paramilitary forces in areas where the Maoists are wielding heavy influence.
“The government is strengthening the states in the battle against naxalism,” highly-placed government sources said on Thursday.
The Centre’s anti-naxal plan was first placed for approval by states during the Chief Ministers’ conference held in January.
Incidentally, the Maoists stepped up their offensive against security forces on Thursday killing 17 policemen in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, prompting the government to rush additional forces to the state.
Meanwhile, the ministry of defence (MoD), is examining a proposal of the Indian
Air Force (IAF) asking for authorisation to fire back in self-defence at naxalites, highly-placed MoD sources said, adding, the MoD would first examine the proposal before the Cabinet Committee on Security takes it up.
Source::DC