Centre to deploy additional force to counter Maoists in Bihar

Centre to provide Bihar with helicopter and an additional battalion of the central para military force to fight Maoists. M I Khan reports.

Union Home Secretary R K Singh said on Friday that the fight against Maoists will continue across the country and that the Centre would provide specific help to the state government.

"Fight against Maoists will continue," Singh, who is on a two-day visit to Bihar said after holding discussions on the issue of Maoist with top officials of the state government.

Singh said that the Centre would provide Bihar with a helicopter and an additional battalion of the central para military force to fight the Maoists.

He also promised to provide the state with two more battalions of security force in the near future.

Singh is also expected to meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to review the ongoing Union government sponsored development projects in Maoist affected districts in the state, an official in chief minister office said.

Singh is visiting Bihar at a time when the state police have launched an intensive combing operation to trace 15 people, including 12 labourers, abducted by Maoists.

The incident took place in Balthara village in Jamui district, about 200 km from Patna. Police said the labourers were engaged in the construction of a bridge when they abducted.

Police suspect that the Maoists chose to abduct the workers after the company building the bridge refused to pay 'protection money' demanded by them.

Officials will propose the installation of model police stations in Maoist affected districts with the help of the Central government," an official said. Officials will also raise the proposal of modernisation of the police force," he added.

Singh will visit his native village in Supaul district on Saturday, and will inspect the site of the proposed road construction near the Indo-Nepal border, officials said.