PM asks forces to firm up gains in Naxal areas with policy shift

ENCOURAGED by diminishing cases of Left-Wing-Extremism (LWE) related violence, sources said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the recently held DGP/IGP conference in Chhattisgarh, directed officials to make a decisive shift in strategy from 'armed action' against violent elements to 'unfolding welfare and developmental initiatives' in the previosuly Naxal dominated districts.

- MUKESH RANJAN @New Delhi

According to sources, the directions were given with an aim to hold on to the areas regained from the Naxal operatives, by drying up local support for Maoists.

Prime Minister stressed on the fact that since the situation in such areas has seen a 'significant improvement', the states and union territories previously affected by LWE should shift their focus on public outreach, positive policing and deeper engagement with local communities, especially tribal youth, sources said.

A senior official, who attended the meet in Raipur in November last year, quoting the Prime Minister, told this newspaper that he asked state police forces to shift their strategy from "crisis handling to facilitating welfare and development" and reach out to people at large.