Armed forces to hold recruitment camps in Naxal-hit areas

In a bid to prevent Naxalites from recruiting youth in their cadre, the armed forces would organize special recruitment camps in remote Maoist-hit areas, Minister of State for Defence Jitendra Singh today said.

Singh, however, ruled out any role of the armed forces in tackling the extremists.

"Naxal management needs a multi-faceted approach. The approach should be made by both Union and state governments. The first priority should be the overall development of remote rural areas and the tribals living there," Singh said.

He was addressing a press conference after the inauguration of an integrated shipbuilding facility at the GRSE here.

"The development has been centred around big towns and cities in the extremism-hit states. The Ministry of Defence will carry out special recruitment camps in the remotest areas for the youth. We have to see that these camps are held in the interior most areas too," Singh said.

Asked if the armed forces will have any role to play in tackling the Maoist violence, Singh said, "There isn't any such proposal and it is not the role of the armed forces to deal with the Naxal problem. There are specialised forces such as CRPF and others to tackle the issue."