No let up in operations to tackle Maoist menace: Rajnath

Two days after Naxals struck in a big way in Chhattisgarh, government today asserted in Parliament that there will be no let up in operations to eliminate Maoist menace and promised all support to the security forces to deal with it firmly.
In a suo motu statement in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the killing of 14 CRPF personnel on Monday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh gave details of the incident saying Maoists attacked the security forces, who were engaged in operations against them, that began on November 16 and resulted in reported killing of 12 Naxals.
Making it clear that there will be no let up in operations against the Maoists, Singh said the Central government was committed to firmly tackle the Maoists problem with a multi-pronged strategy and offering all possible resources to the state governments to deal with the menace.

"I would like to reiterate that the Central government is committed firmly to tackle the Left Wing Extremism. ...It is our firm commitment to provide every possible assistance to the security forces and we will continue the operations till this problem is fully eradicated," he said.
The Home Minister, who had visited Raipur yesterday to take stock of the situation there, said as part of the multi- pronged strategy, the government has taken security related steps and development related initiatives and ensuring rights and entitlements of tribals and other weaker sections.
"As a result of the implementation of this strategy, the morale of the Maoists has weakened. The number of surrenders of Maoists cadres has increased substantially in the current year. The LWE violence has also been declining since 2011 and this trend continues in the current year also," he said.

Singh said whenever state governments ask for Central Armed Police Forces for maintaining peace, tackling extremism, natural calamities, the Central government normally makes forces available after due consideration.
"CAPFs, always act as per the directions of the state governments, maintaining coordination. We are also taking all possible measures to increase the capability of the state governments," he said.