Much more needs to be done to tackle Naxalism, says PM

Prime minister Manmohan Singh

Despite the curtailment of militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir, the public order dimension in the state has become a cause of serious concern, said prime minister Manmohan Singh.

He said there was a need to revisit standard operating procedures and crowd control measures to deal with public agitations with non-lethal, yet effective and focused measures.

Policing in the country has become increasingly complex over the years, said the prime minister. Of late, growing presence of non-state actors, fundamentalist groups and Leftwing extremists has further complicated matters, he added.

Much more needs to be done to meet the challenge of Naxalism, said Singh. "We recognise that the Naxalites are our own people and ready to talk to them provided they abjure the path of violence," he added.