How Gujarat killed Naxalism in its bud

The Gujarat police has been able to suppress the menace of Naxalism in its initial stages in the state, Director General of Police (DGP) S S Khandwawala said on Friday.

Asked about the threat from Naxals to Gujarat ahead of the Independence Day celebrations on August 15, Khandwawala said, "Naxalism was at a very preliminary stage in the state and we have been able to suppress it at the initial stage itself."

"There is no threat due to Naxals in the state for the August 15 function," he added.

Khandwawala said the situation in Gujarat was unlike that of Chhattisgarh or Jharkhand, where Naxalism is a matter of great concern.

The Gujarat police had in February this year filed a first comprehensive FIR against CPI (Maoist) in the state to investigate their plans, activities and to identify persons involved in spread of the banned organisation in South Gujarat region.

Since filing of the FIR, the special investigation team (SIT) constituted to probe the case has arrested 12 persons in this case from different part of the state. Some have also been brought on a transfer warrant from other states for questioning.
The SIT has already filed an 1,800-page chargesheet against 11 persons arrested in the case.

According to the chargesheet, all the accused have been have been book under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which include criminal conspiracy (120B), waging war against government (121A), Sedition (124A), promoting enmity between different groups (153A).

Besides, they have also been booked under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.