DRI should examine links between Naxals, mining lobby: Patil

Patil, who is also guardian minister for Gadchiroli, said he stood by his recent statement that funding from the mining industry was responsible for the spread of Naxal menace in Gadchiroli and Gondia districts of the state.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) should look into "links" between Naxals and the mining lobby, Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil said here today.

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Patil, who is also guardian minister for Gadchiroli, said he stood by his recent statement that funding from the mining industry was responsible for the spread of Naxal menace in Gadchiroli and Gondia districts of the state.

The mining-Naxal link is an open secret, which would come out in the open if investigated thoroughly, he said.

"Naxals have evolved a parallel machinery. Earlier they had country-made weapons. Now, they have the latest and in some cases, imported weapons. Earlier, we (police) went there in companies (group of 100 personnel)...now Naxals move about in companies...they have their own salary structure," he said.