New Delhi, Oct.30 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Friday said that on the issue of internal security of the country, the Government continues to remain vigilant against any terror threat or attack.

“We continue to remain vigilant against any terror threat or attack. In Jammu and Kashmir, led by the Army and the J&K police, the security forces have been able to neutralize a number of attempts of potential militants to infiltrate into India,” said Chidambaram but he underlined: “The most serious threats to internal security in October 2009 came from the CPI (Maoist). I have already referred to the incident in Gadchiroli.”

Revealing his ministry’s monthly assessment for October, Chidambaram said: “On October 27, 2009, the CPI (Maoist) and their supporters in the PCPA held the Rajdhani Express with 1250 passengers hostage for nearly 5 hours. In the last two days alone, there have been violent incidents in West Bengal (CPI (M) and Trinamool Congress cadres shot dead); Jharkhand (2 school buildings blown up); Andhra Pradesh (Congress worker shot dead); and Chhattisgarh (1 SPO and 1 villager killed).”

Chidambaram said that all these incidents, in his view, point to the nature of the challenge of the naxalites. “The violence must end. The State - the Central Government and the State Governments - have a duty to end the violence. It is with that objective that we have made a simple and straight forward appeal to the CPI (Maoist): “Halt the violence. These are three simple words, and I do not see why they should be subjected to tortuous interpretation and analysis.

Home Minister said that on behalf of the Central Government I wish to say once again that the CPI (Maoist) should halt the violence and the Central Government would persuade the State Governments to talk to the CPI (Maoist) on all matters including their concerns on land acquisition, forest rights, industrialization and development.

“I regret to say that the response so far has been disappointing,” he added.

Chidambaram informed: “Lt. General (Retd.) Vijay Madan has been appointed as Interlocutor to hold talks with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM). Following the decision of the DHD(J) to lay down arms and move its cadres into designated camps, the stage has been set to hold talks with the DHD(J) as well as some other groups which have evinced their interest to hold talks. It is proposed to hold talks with the DHD(J), UPDS and the NDFB (pro-talks). In consultation with the Government of Assam, P C Haldar has been appointed as the interlocutor.”

“Union Home Secretary visited Guwahati on October 9, 2009 and chaired a meeting of State Home Secretaries and State Intelligence Chiefs of the North Eastern States. He also visited Kohima, Nagaland on October 13-14, 2009 and reviewed the law and order situation in Nagaland. During these visits, he also interacted with diverse sections of civil society,” Chidambaram added.

On the issue of Central para-military forces (CPMFs), Chidambaram said: “Sanctions amounting to Rs. 188.41 crore were issued during the month for various infrastructure works of the CPMFs–CRPF (94.79 crore), SSB (Rs. 49.76 crore), AR (Rs. 37.46 crore), ITBP (Rs. 6.40 crore).”

While sanctions amounting to Rs. 38.50 crore were issued during the month for acquisition of land for various establishments of the CPMFs as follows: CRPF (Rs. 31.13 crore), ITBP (Rs. 3.97 crore), AR (Rs. 2.64 crore, BSF (Rs. 0.76 crore), the report added.

CISF will be deployed for security at BHEL, Ranipet. 98 posts have been created for this purpose, the Home Minister informed.

“Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken, visited Hyderabad on October 22, 2009 and held discussions with the Screening Committee of Eminent Freedom Fighters. This Committee was re-constituted recently to scrutinize pension claims relating to the Hyderabad Liberation Movement,” Chidambaram informed in his monthly report. (ANI)