Secret cells of CPI Maoists are operating in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. If they are not neutralised the situation would go out of control, said director-general of police R.R. Girish Kumar.
Mr Kumar told his counterparts on Wednesday at the Southern DGPs conference that there is a dire need to take preventive steps to curb the spread of the movement in the south.
“The front organisations of Maoists and their mass-based organisations are active in urban areas of southern states,” observed Mr Girish.
“While Andhra could contain left wing extremist movement to a great extent, the fact that the movement has spread to nearly 160 districts across the country is an indication of growing militancy,” the DGP said.
He said the inter-state operations by Andhra Pradesh and Karantaka recently averted a major threat to the life of politicians and police officials by the Maoist action teams.
Mr Kumar said, “The problem of left-wing extremism in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is not as serious as it is in Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand. But there are secret cells and frontal organisations operating in these southern states.”
It was decided in the meeting that heads of intelligence agencies of four states handling left-wing extremism should meet once in six months for exchange information and also real time information has to be gathered from time to time.
The information on rehabilitation of surrendered extremists, compensation to the naxal victims, rewards shall be shared with states’ nodal officers.
The DGPs also agreed upon sharing of photographs and details of Left-wing extremists, terrorists and other organised criminals on day-to-day basis.
The one-day conference at Jubilee Hall was attended by Kerala DGP Jacob Punnoose, , CID DGP of Karnataka D.V. Guru Prasad, Tamil Nadu DGP Latika Saran and senior officers from the southern states.