Thursday, August 3 2006 16:39 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Property worth Rs.116.7 million (Rs 11.67 crores) was damaged by Maoist rebels in the first six months of this year, almost double the figure for the whole of 2005, according to home ministry figures.

A detailed break-up of the list of Maoist-related incidents, compiled by the ministry, reveals that Chhattisgarh was the worst affected among the 10 states with property alone worth Rs.92.3 million destroyed.

"Of the 806 Maoist-related incidents till June this year, Chhattisgarh witnessed 360 incidents, in which 190 civilians and 54 security personnel were killed. The unfortunate part is that violence is steadily increasing," said a senior ministry official.

Jharkhand with 169 incidents, Andhra Pradesh, 104, and Bihar, 63, are the other states that have seen a surge in Maoist violence this year. In all these states, property worth Rs.15 million was destroyed till June this year.

In 2004, property worth Rs.64.7 million was destroyed due to Maoist violence across the country. In 2005, the figure was Rs.57.1 million.

"Usually, the damage inflicted on security personnel camps, police stations, jeeps and government buildings are factored in while totalling up the sum," said ministry sources.

Despite the slew of measures initiated by the ministry in conjunction with state governments, such as coordinated intelligence-based operations, ensuring improved technology and weaponry and even opening up a special Maoist cell in the ministry, the killings have increased.

The ministry itself maintains that while Maoist violence had gone down by 12 percent in the first six months of 2006, the number of deaths had increased by 16 percent during the period under review.

However, for ministry officials, Chhattisgarh has been their object of concern. Concerned over the spurt in Maoist violence, union Home Minister Shivraj Patil asked Chief Minister Raman Singh and other state officials to draw up a blueprint to counter the guerrillas last month.

With the state becoming the focal point of Maoist rebellion in the country, both sides are expected to draw up an elaborate long-term strategy on how to tackle retaliatory attacks, especially in the wake of last month's massacre of over 32 tribesmen by Maoist guerrillas in Dantewada district, 510 km south of state capital Raipur.