Situation in Maoist-affected states continues to be grave: PC

New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI) The Indian Government on Monday
said the situation in the Maoist-affected states is a cause of
"grave concern" and feared that the trend of rising violence
will continue in 2010.
"The situation in the states affected by left-wing
extremism continues to be a cause of grave concern. The number
of deaths in 2009 among civilians in such states were 591,
while 317 security personnel and 217 militants were killed,
indicating a rising trend," Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram
said in a press conference.
The Home Minister, who felt the trend will continue in
2010, also said the authorities had lived in a state of denial
on the actual situation of Naxal-affected states for too long.
"Therefore when I candidly state the position, it might
appear surprising to you but I believe that it is necessary
that the authority of the civilian government is established
in these districts where in large tracts of land, the
authority is not with the civilian government," he said.
Chidamabarm said there are 33 districts which are
seriously Naxalite-affected, apart from another 50 districts
where the Maoists also have presence.
"The anti-Naxal operation is a long-drawn struggle and
security forces are going there only to establish the civilian
government," he said. PTI ACB
RBT