Wednesday, May 18 2005 15:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Incensed over the yesterday (May 17, 2005) night's killing of a person by naxals in Chikmagalur district, the Karnataka Government today (May 18, 2005) decided to deploy Special Task Force (STF) to curb the growing naxal menace in Malnad and border districts.

A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister N Dharam Singh and Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah decided to rush in a 350-strong contingent of STF, which was involved in the operations against forest bandit Veerappan, to four districts of Malnad region and another team of 220 men to border areas.

Addressing a press conference in Bangalore, Singh and Siddaramaiah said that the STF would be headed by Jaiprakash Naik, DIG and has been directed to commence combing operations from tomorrow (May 19, 2005).

Siddaramaiah, who holds finance portfolio, said the finance department has been asked release Rs six crore for providing incentives to the STF personnel drafted for operations against naxals.

Singh giving details of the last night attack at Menasina Hadya in Chikmagalur district said, a 15-member group of naxals raided the house of a Congress activist Seshappa Gowda and killed him, suspecting that he was a police informer.

Singh said that naxals killed eight police personnel at Venkatamannahally in Tumkur district recently, the police had stepped up vigil against the activities of the outlawed group.

The last night's incident has proved that naxals are active in parts of Chikmagalur, particularly after the gunning down of two of their members including Saket Rajan, he said.

Despite demand by Opposition parties to deploy STF to counter naxal activities, the Government, which initially favoured the move, had put it on hold saying, "It is viewing the naxal problem as socio-economic related and wanted a negotiated solution".

Meanwhile, C T Ravi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Chikmagalur, addressing a press conference in Bangalore demanded the dismissal of the Singh Government holding it responsible for the killing of a person.

Ravi and few other BJP activists picketted Singh's office at Vidhana Soudha, demanding STF deployment and compensation to the family of the killed Congress activist.