20 more districts to be declared naxal-hit

The official figure for the Naxal-affected districts in the country is set to cross the mark of 100 with the government planning to add 20 more districts in the existing list. As of now, the list has 83 districts. Rajesh Ahuja reports.

The official figure for the Naxal-affected districts in the country is set to cross the mark of 100 with the government planning to add 20 more districts in the existing list. As of now, the list has 83 districts.

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There are 626 districts in total in the country.

The decision will help the newly notified districts to get more central funds to spruce up their security infrastructure.

According to sources, state governments were demanding an increase in the number of districts affected by Naxal violence under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme. The Union home ministry has decided to implement the proposal that will enable these districts to get additional central funds.

On Monday, Union home minister P Chidambaram chaired a meeting of the directors general of police (DGPs) of nine Naxal-affected states. During the meeting, top police officials from states were informed about the decision on the addition of districts in the SRE scheme.

Around 400 police stations in the nine Naxal-affected states are being fortified with additional features like periphery fencing, reinforced armoury and sophisticated weapons at the cost of Rs 2 crore per police station. The government also agreed to provide more helicopters to the states hit by Naxal violence.

According to sources, West Bengal was asked to be careful about reports to the effect that the Maoists may stage a come back in the Janglemahal area.

The issue of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs), sources say, also cropped up in Monday's meeting.

The National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) is entrusted with the task of flying the UAVs over Naxal-affected areas for the purpose of surveillance. The UAVs will be deployed in the next few weeks.