New Home Secy Raj Kumar Singh lists anti-Naxal seps

NEW DELHI: Taking a cue from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s call on Wednesday for better policing and intelligence-gathering in Naxal-affected areas, the newly-appointed Union Home Secretary, Raj Kumar Singh, on Thursday listed strengthening of anti-Naxal forces in terms of training and equipment as a top priority and resolved to focus on intelligence inputs to effectively counter the Maoists. At the same time, Singh, who took over from incumbent GK Pillai on Thursday, stressed upon the need to pursue development in Naxalhit areas through various existing schemes and mechanisms.

Pillai has retired after completing his two-year tenure as Union home secretary. Speaking to newspersons soon after assuming charge, Singh said he would work in close coordination with the governments of Naxal-hit states. “Success in the fight against Leftwing extremism has to come from close partnership with the states-... we are taking steps in that direction and will meet the challenge of Naxalism together,” he underlined.

It may be recalled that the Prime Minister had, during his interaction with a group of editors on Wednesday, said that the emphasis in the fight against Naxalism was both on intelligence, so that the forces could match them in actual combat, as well as development as it is the master remedy to win over people. “We are tackling that problem at two ends....Money is not a problem. But the main problem is infrastructure. We need to protect the building of roads.

We must strengthen the police and other intelligence . “One emphasis is on intelligence so that they match them in actual combat. The other is on development. Development is the master remedy to win over people . If my children are in school, better health facilities are available , if forest rights of tribals are respected and implemented, it should win over people. In the short run, government’s writ must run,” Singh had told the editors.

On a broader note, the new home secretary said he was aware of the challenges before the MHA and would continue to pursue the measures that have been instituted to meet these challenges. “We have the resilience to stay the course and prevail upon all the challenges. Let nobody have any doubt (about that),” said Singh. Singh is a Bihar cadre IAS officer of the 1975 batch. He took charge as officer on special duty (OSD) in the ministry of home affairs last week. Prior to that, he was secretary, department of defence production, in the ministry of defence.