'SC Salwa Judum ruling to impact anti-naxal ops'

The Supreme Court judgement on disbanding of the Salwa Judum will impact on the anti-Naxal operations, says the Centre.

The Supreme Court judgement on disbanding of the Salwa Judum will impact on the anti-Naxal operations, says the Centre. In this regard, the central government is also planning to organise a meeting of chief ministers of Orissa and Jharkhand after Chhattisgarh’s action on a new law on the issue.

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When asked whether the recent Supreme Court judgement on disbanding and disarming tribals deployed as special police officers (SPOs) will affect the anti-Naxal operations, he said, “Well, I think it will.”

“Chief minister of Chhattisgarh (Raman Singh) also strongly feels that this judgement will impact anti-Naxal operations,” Chidambaram added.

The home minister said SPOs were engaged in one manner or the other in anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh and in Orissa, and that the Supreme Court judgement applied only to engaging them in anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkhand. In some instances, besides combating Maoist violence, SPOs also help maintain law and order.