Centre directs tough action against Naxals

The Centre today reviewed the law and order situation in Maoist-hit Chhattisgarh and asked the state government to take tough action against Naxals which struck thrice in the last fortnight killing eight security personnel in the state.
A high-level meeting, chaired by Union Home Secretary L C Goyal with top officials of Chhattisgarh officials, took stock of the situation in the Maoist-hit state, particularly in Bastar area, and ordered to firm up strategy to give a strong push in the fight against the red cadres and greatea synergy among security forces on the ground.
Senior officials of CRPF and BSF were also present in the hour-long meeting, official sources said.

With a special focus on carrying out anti-Naxal operations in the dense jungles of Bastar, the meeting stressed on close coordination among state police force and central paramilitary forces so that there is no gap in offensives.
A majority of the casualties in Naxal violence in recent past has taken place in Bastar region, forcing the Centre to take up on an urgent basis an initiative to counter the rebels.
Seven STF personnel were killed and dozen others were injured on April 11 when Naxals ambushed them in the forests of restive Pidmel village under Polampalli.

The ultras last Sunday set ablaze at least 17 vehicles engaged in mining work in Naxal-hit Kanker district and a BSF jawan was killed in a Naxal attack in the same district on Sunday night.

A total of 14 CRPF personnel were killed by Maoists in December last year in Sukma district in Bastar region.
More than 25 people, including Congress leaders Mahendra Karma and others, were killed in an ambush carried out by Naxals at Jiramghati in Bastar region in May 2013. Congress leader V C Shukla, who was injured in the ambush, died later.
76 CRPF personnel were killed by the rebels in Dantewada in Bastar region in April 2010.