Directed to curb terrorist and leftwing extremism activities in the State the National Investigating Agency (NIA) would soon set up its unit in Jharkhand. Decision in this regard was taken in unified command meeting happened on Tuesday.
The meeting attended by Chief Minister Raghubar Das along with top officials of the State and Additional Secretary with the Union Home Ministry Jaideep Govind in that it also came into light that the State would be getting three battalions of the Indian Reserve Battalion.
“A unit of NIA would soon be opened in Ranchi for probing cases related to extremism. Three battalions of IRB would be given to Jharkhand to strengthen security scenario here. The Additional Secretary has lauded works done by the Government to deal with naxal activities which has seen a decline of 50 per cent in recent time,” said an official present in the meeting.
The Chief Minister on his part to replace fear with progress has directed to set up integrated development centers in all across the disturbed areas of the State on the place of police posts and pickets. Also in the presence of the representative of the Center he sought providing Rs 314 crore under Security Related Expenditure Scheme which is pending there.
The CM has directed to hold monthly meeting of all the sectors of unified command headed by the Home Secretary and resolve the issues coming in. “Police pickets should be replaced with integrated development centers in the naxal-hit areas that would also take up development works at local level. New camps should be opened in the areas where naxals are still dominating such as Budha Pahar,” said the CM adding that the Government was committed to eradicate leftwing extremism from the State and had done as well to a great extent.
He underlined that naxals are being cornered in certain pockets in the State and if efforts are taken a bit more the problem would be resolved for ever. Besides the naxal organisations the CM also mentioned about criminal gangs taking advantage of the situation for extracting money.
In the meeting it was also decided to form unified command under DCs and SPs in the lWE districts. It also came into light that in comparison of 180 naxal activities in 2012, only 67 incidents have taken place in 2016. Chief Secretary Rajbala Verma said that Jharkhand was heading towards becoming an extremism-free State and urged the Center to not recall forces from here so that the elements can be suppressed for ever.
DGP DK Pandey, Additional Chief Secretary Amit Khare, Additional CS Home SKG Rahate, Secretary to the Chief Minister Sunil Barnwal along with senior officials of police, CRPF, Intelligence Bureau and SSB were present in the meeting.