Thursday, August 18 2005 14:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Concerned over the stepped up Naxalite violence in Andhra Pradesh, the central government today (August18, 2005) decided to despatch an additional Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) battalion comprising 1,000 men to the state to help the government in effectively combating the Maoist problem.

The CRPF had been withdrawn from the state while peace talks were going on between the Naxalites and the state government last year. They were later despatched to Chhattisgarh, official sources said. However, soon after the gunning down of Congress MLA C Narsi Reddy and eight others on August 15, Secretary Security Anil Chaudhary spoke to Swaranjit Sen, A P Director General of Police and assured that the Centre would provide all assistance to the state authorities to fight the menace.

Sources say that the Centre has asked the state authorities to "go after the Maoists and bring the culprits to book". The Centre is also of the view that Andhra police was best trained to deal with the Naxalites.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil have condemned the "mindless" violence in Andhra Pradesh and "reiterated the commitment of the government to fight terrorism in all its forms".