Tuesday, February 15 2005 16:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kollur (Udupi Dist): Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh said two anti-Naxal squads comprising 350 police personnel in each, headed by two DIGs, would be deployed to contain Naxal activities in the State.

On the deployment of STF to combat the Naxal menace, he told reporter in Kollur yesterday (Feb 14, 2005) that the Government was "yet to take a decision".

Referring to the increase in Naxal activities in areas like Pavagada taluk in Tumkur district bordering Andhra Pradesh, Singh said he had discussed the issue with his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Rajashekhar Reddy, who had assured all help in tackling the problem in such areas.

In their first ever major strike in the State, heavily armed Naxal gangs had killed seven policemen at their camp in a school building at Venkammanahalli in Tumkur district last week.