Raipur: Expressing concern over the increasing naxalite activities in Chhattisgarh, Union Minister of state for Home Swamy Chinmayanand on June 18 asked the state government to enforce POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) against them.

"The naxalite activities have increased in Chhattisgarh since the state was formed and now it has spread to seven out of the 16 districts," Chinmayanand told reporters.

Asking the state to take preventive action to check the ultras' activities, he said steps should also be taken to stop youth from joining the naxals.

To a query, he said, "The state should enforce POTA against the naxalites. It is only using the IPC (Indian penal Code) and CrPC (Criminal procedure Code) Acts, which is nothing but giving protection to naxalites."

If all the affected states agree, the paramilitary forces deployed in the naxal affected states could be put under one unified command for checking their activities, he added.

"When the naxalites are active in seven districts, the paramilitary forces provided by the Centre after state's request, have been deployed in only three districts," the Minister said and wanted to know the reason for that.

The pressure of naxalites could be understood from the fact that the panchayat representatives had to resign bowing to their dictates, Chinmayanand said adding, "If this continues, it will be very difficult to have a free and fair Assembly polls scheduled by the year end."

Replying to a question of pending of a Rs 1,400 crore proposal with the Centre for the state to tackle the naxal menace, Chinmayanand, citing the example of the North Eastern states and Jammu and Kashmir, said, "Financial package alone will not solve the problem. Steps should also be taken accordingly."

PTI