Pro-people policing in naxal-hit areas

The operation that was taken up by the Anti Naxal Force (ANF) to combat naxal activities in the Western Ghats region concluded on August 28.

 With this, the Police department, district administrations of the naxal-affected districts and various other departments have listed the problems existing in the naxal-hit villages. The departments will now take steps to address the problems.

As per the State’s direction, ‘Operation Black Thunder’ was taken up in four naxal-affected districts in Western Ghats namely, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikmagalur and Shimoga. Various programmes under ‘Black Thunder’ were implemented in select interior villages of these districts from July 28 to August 28, 2011.

Organising Jana Samparka Sabhas (grievance meetings with the public) and intensifying combing operations were its the chief objectives.

Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Alok Mohan told Deccan Herald that organising Jana Samparka Sabhas was the main concern of the Police department.

174 public meetings

In August, a total of 174 meetings were held in the four naxal-affected districts. As per the records, 24 Jana Samparka Sabhas were held in Dakshina Kannada as well as Shimoga district, 71 meetings in Chikmagalur and 55 in Udupi district. 

“Our main intention was to make villagers and tribals open up and air their problems.
Most of the problems related to lack of basic infrastructure.  The problems related to security and police were addressed by the Police department,” he said.

On the other hand, ANF has intensified combing operations in the four districts which the IGP claims are planned better than earlier. As part of ‘Operation Black Thunder’, 113 combing operations took place in Dakshina Kannada in August, 97 in Udupi, 48 each in Chikmagalur and Shimoga districts.

The IGP said the operations would continue in the days to come. The reports of the Jana Samparka Sabhas would be submitted to the government soon, following which further steps are likely to be taken.