Thaindian News

Kolkata, Dec 13 (IANS) Terming the Maoist movement in the country as “a socio-economic problem”, a former top cop Tuesday said the menace can be better tackled by addressing the social and economic problems of the people rather than police action.

“Maoism is an ideology which can never be wiped out. The movement is a socio-economic problem and the need is to address those issues rather then taking police action,” Former Director-General of the Railway Protection Force B.P. Saha said.

“The rebels with their blood thirsty ways have lost following among the people and the death of their top leader Kishenji has further pushed them to the wall,” he said.

“This is the right time for the government to come forward and ensure that the root cause of the menace, that is the poor social and economical condition of the people, is redressed,” said Saha who was speaking at an event on national security.

Top Maoist leader Kishenji was earlier gunned down by security forces in an encounter.

Saha, who has written several publications on Left Wing extremism, said the movement has been spreading across the country because people have tried to negate the rebels and not the causes which created them.

He also said the city was becoming a safe haven for unscrupulous elements sneaking in from porous borders.

“Kolkata has become a safe haven for unscrupulous elements who have been regularly infiltrating from the other side of our borders and jeopardising our security. These people are not only a major threat to the security of the city or the state but the entire country,” said Saha.