An alert has been sounded in Chandauli, Mirzapur and Sonebhadra, the three naxal-affected districts of UP, following a fresh spurt of naxal violence in Chattisgarh, which shares its boundary with UP.
"Six companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and 13 companies of PAC are already camping there. We are keeping a watch on those districts of eastern UP where we have information of naxal-activity," said Brij Lal, the additional director general (ADG), crime and law and order, UP.
In UP, several alleged naxalites and their supporters have been arrested from Kanpur, Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Allahabad. In Kanpur, police claimed that naxalites/their sympathizers had set up a 'sleeping module' from where they provided shelter and support to militant naxalites.
When the police arrested "eight naxalites" in Kanpur, they were allegedly getting some naxal literature, to be distributed among the people to popularize their ideology, published.
In Allahabad, police arrested some social workers for allegedly siding with the naxals.
While top police officials claimed that with these arrests they had virtually "crippled the naxal leadership in UP", still with fresh violence being reported from UP's neighboring state, top cops admit the need to maintain a high alert.
{{/usCountry}}While top police officials claimed that with these arrests they had virtually "crippled the naxal leadership in UP", still with fresh violence being reported from UP's neighboring state, top cops admit the need to maintain a high alert.
{{/usCountry}}"These people have their sympathizers. The gullible often make the mistake of buying the theories that the intellectuals among them keep floating. So from taking up the cause of the poor and the exploited, they do everything to win popular support. When this fails, they take to arms," a senior officer said adding, "Though at present the naxal-activity is very much under check in UP, yet you can never lower your guard. These naxals operate on the you-miss-I-hit theory and as was evident in Chatisgarh, they can be deadly."
Samajwadi Party chief, Mulayam Singh Yadav, while criticizing the naxal attack in Chattisgarh, said the issue should be tackled before resentment starts brewing among the people.
"The main reason for increase in naxal-activity is the increasing disenchantment wih the policies of the state. All government policies should focus on the rural poor. Job opportunities in rural areas should be provided," Yadav said. He blamed the faulty UPA policies responsible for the increase in naxal-violence.