Union home secy to visit Bihar to review Maoist problem

Union home secretary R K Singh will visit Bihar on Friday to hold discussions on Maoist problem with top officials of the state government.

The meeting comes at a time when the state police have launched an intensive combing operation to trace 15 people, including 12 labourers, abducted by Maoists, officials said.

Singh will also meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during his two day visit to review the ongoing union government sponsored development projects in Maoist affected districts in the state,an official in chief minister office said.

 The incident took place in Balthara village in Jamui district, about 200 km from Patna. Police said the labourers were engaged in constructing a bridge when they were forcibly taken away.

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

"Singh will review the Central government's sponsored development projects in Maoist affected districts during his visit," an official said.

Officials will put the proposal of model police stations in Maoist affected districts with the help of the Central government," the official added.

Officials will also raise the proposal of modernisation of the police force," he said.

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