Maharashtra’s home minister RR Patil is expected to face some tough questions when Union home minister P Chidambaram reviews the deteriorating Naxal situation during his visit to Mumbai on November 15.
Unhappy with the cold shoulder given to various missives highlighting consolidation by the Maoists beyond Gadchiroli into Vidarbha region and their plans to spread to Mumbai, Nashik and Pune, Chidambaram is keen to talk straight with the Maharashtra government, top sources in the government told DNA.
Data showing spiralling increase in Naxal violence in Maharashtra supports the Centre’s claim. Not only have incidents of Naxal violence gone up dramatically from a modest 68 to 154 in 2009 and 72 till August in 2011, the Naxals also killed the maximum number of 32 civilians till August this year as compared to only 12 in 2008.
DNA had earlier reported from an assessment paper prepared by Joint Intelligence Committee chief Ajit Lal that warned about Maoists forming a Golden Corridor Committee to build their base in the industrial areas of Gujarat and Maharashtra. The Maoists have also formed a new Western Maharashtra Area Committee (WMAC) to build their bases in Mumbai as well as in northern districts. The WMAC is already active in Nashik, Pune and Mumbai. The IB claims that the Maoists have also formed a new Agit Propaganda Team to function from Mumbai and four new party members have been tasked to work amongst students and youth.
