Sunday, February 6 2005 15:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Belgaum: Expressing anguish over the spurt in Naxal activities despite the offer of talks by the Government, Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh today (Feb 6, 2005) said firm steps would be taken to check the Naxal menace in parts of Western Ghats.

Announcing the Government's intention to soon name the head of the Special Task Force (STF) set up to tackle Naxal problem, he told news agencies in Belgaum that it had decided to take firm steps against Naxal activities in the wake of today's encounter in Chikmangalur district in which two Naxalites were shot dead.

Singh, here to attend some official programmes, said an emergency meeting of top police and home department officials had been called for tomorrow to discuss the Naxal activities and evolve steps to deal with the situation.

He, however, assured that the Government was still ready for talks but not in an atmosphere that would create law and order problems.

He recalled the talks the Government had with Naxalites in this regard earlier. Singh said the committee headed by Development Commissioner, Chiranjeevi Singh, which went into the problems in Naxal infested regions, had submitted its report to the Government which was chalking out a programme to implement the report for the welfare of the people in Naxal infested places in Chikmagalur, Mangalore and Udupi districts.

Singh said the Government would also consider utilising sophisticated gadgets, which were provided to the STF to hunt Veerappan, to stamp out the Naxalites menace.