Tuesday, March 8 2005 15:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Security has been strengthened on the borders between Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh to stop infiltration of naxalites into Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa informed the State Assembly today (Mar 8, 2005).

Intervening during the debate on the State Budget, she said that with the lifting of ban on the People's War Group (PWG) in Andhra Pradesh, naxalites had a free run in that State, besides infiltrating into Karnataka.

Tamil Nadu had strengthened security along the borders of these States to prevent infiltration of naxalites into the State, she said.

Claiming that the law and order was best maintained in the State, she alleged that the police force was demoralised in Andhra Pradesh after a Superintendent of Police was transferred and put on compulsory wait, as he took action against the naxalites. People there were in the grip of fear.

In Karnataka also, naxalites killed police personnel, she said.

People living in Tamil Nadu were lucky as the State was number one in the maintenance of law and order.

Referring to the criticism of Congress MLA C Gnanasekaran, who alleged that with the increase in the number of murders and dacoity, law and order had worsened and the police intelligence machinery had failed, she said, " If you have a grievance against my Government, you criticise us and not police."

When Gnanasekaran said that a newspaper, quoting Intelligence Bureau information, stated that mercenaries had been hired to kill Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) deputy general secretary M K Stalin, she said, amid protests from the DMK benches, "You cannot quote yellow newspapers. Is it a Government gazette?" she asked.

DMK members, led by their deputy leader, Duraimurugan said that the newspaper was a widely circulated daily and was 'unmasking' several misdeeds of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Government. Most DMK members were on their feet, protesting Jayalalithaa's remarks against the paper.

Gnanasekaran alleged that "gun culture and bomb culture" was spreading fast in the State.