Government mulls over naxal package

“The State government is readying a Naxal surrender package on the lines of the packages announced by other Naxal-infested states. It will be a major step towards controlling Naxal menace,” he said addressing a press conference here on Friday.

However, Hosur denied to reveal the details of the package, saying that he was “not supposed to reveal them”.

“Naxal menace is a big challenge before the Western Range police. However, we have been successful in controlling it to a great extent. No major incident of Naxal attack has been reported since March 2009,” he noted. The IGP said it is the firm resolution of the residents of the Naxal-infested areas and their cooperation with the police is responsible for preventing the spreading of Naxal arms in the region. “About 1.49 lakh people in 82 villages come under the Naxal-menace area. A comprehensive, integrated and holistic approach is needed to tackle the problem,” he observed.

Hosur identified communal divide, Naxal menace, organised crime - Mumbai/Gulf impact, terror module and coastal security as the major challenges of the Western Range. Cattle trafficking, moral policing and desecration of religious establishments also figure in the list prominently. However, he said the crime ratio in the Western Range has come down drastically. “Isolating the ‘virus’ responsible for public unrest, workshops to create awareness against communal violence, reviewing and updating communal goondas list, intelligence gathering, communication with community and political leaders are some of the strategies being taken,” he explained.

Terming the arrest of underworld criminal Rashid Malbari an important achievement in 2009, Hosur said red-corner notice has been issued for three criminals including Bannanje Raja and Koraga Vishwanath Shetty. “Efforts are on to bring Bannanje Raja to India. Presently, he is in the custody of Dubai police. Court procedure is taking a little more time,” the IGP said.

Communal goondas

Of the 1,233 communal goondas identified in the Western Range, more than 50 per cent belong to Dakshina Kannada only. However, out of the total 9,049 ‘professional criminals’ in the range, 2,477 are outsiders, majority of whom are from Kerala, Hosur informed.

Of the 685 MOB criminals in the range, 333 are from Kerala, 143 are from Tamil Nadu, 65 are from Maharashtra. There are 1,827 rowdy sheeters in the Western Range, he added.

Answering a query, Hosur said one person has been arrested in connection with the assault on the cameraman of a private TV channel. He said the department has taken the issue seriously.

“A meeting will be conducted in Kannur on January 11 where top police officials from Kerala are taking part. Issues like illegal sand transportation, communal disturbances and terrorism will be discussed,” he said.

Asked about petrol theft from the Mangalore-Bangalore pipeline, he said the department is dealing sternly against the culprits. SP Dr A S Rao and Additional SP Ramesh were present at the press meet.