Karkala: 'Operation Rainbow' Aims at Bringing Naxals, Families, to Mainstream
Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (SP)
Karkala, Aug 6: Bhaskar Rao, inspector general of police of state anti-terrorist cell and internal security division, said that the ‘Operation Rainbow’ undertaken in coordination with various police forces in the Western Ghats, is mainly aimed at achieving the objective of controlling naxal activities by convincing the naxals and their families spread over Western Ghat villages spanning four districts, to join the mainstream.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday August 5, Rao said that 18 teams with staff strength of 320 have been formed to cover operation within the jurisdiction of 20 police stations in this region. “We are now armed with better techniques to tackle the menace. The police teams will never assault or kill persons through encounters unnecessarily. The emphasis is on explaining the salient features of the government package offered to the families, in an effort to convince them to join the mainstream,” he explained.
He said that the police had, during the last two days, visited some very remote areas which had remained unvisited so far, in spite of heavy rain. Noting that lack of medical facility has been the most noteworthy problem witnessed in these areas, he said that enough funds are at the disposal of agencies to improve the facilities, but that the main problem has been lack of adequate system to deliver the benefits to these people. He said that as per police records, the naxals located in these areas are unlike those found in other states who exploit people. He estimated the number of naxals left at 19, after the death of 15 naxals since 2002, and arrest of 16.
Noting that to address the common complaint that government agencies fail to visit these areas, house-to-house visit has been undertaken and coordinated efforts with the help of revenue, forest, zilla panchayat and health departments are being made to improve the standard of living of these people.
Superintendent of police of district Anti Naxal Force, Amrit Pal, Vasudevamurthy, and additional SP, Venkateshappa, were present at the press conference.