RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Sept.23: Chief Minister (CM) Hemant Soren directed to keep surrendered extremists in an open jail saying if relaxation is required in the jail manual it may be done for the purpose.
CM Soren gave the direction in a meeting organised on left wing extremism in the state after it came to his knowledge that rebels who have laid their arms to come in the mainstream of development are kept in normal jail contrary to the surrender policy.
Apart from asking the home department officials to keep the surrendered extremists in an open jail, Soren also directed them to simplify the work of payment of the amount paid to surrendered Naxalites under the surrender policy.
Later, CM Soren asked officials to keep records of explosives recovered from the extremists and explosives being used for mining purposes. He said keeping records of explosives being used for mining purposes is necessary to break the supply chain of extremists.
Talking about development in Naxal- affected areas, CM Soren asked the officials to ensure expeditious work of development in those areas.
“In 19 extremist affected districts, as many as 15 projects of road construction and 63 projects of bridge construction are in progress. In all projects, 74 to 94 percent of works have been completed. Against the total length of 362.67KM proposed for road construction, 240.92 KM road has been completed and against the target of 63 bridges construction, 47 bridges have been constructed. Thus proper attention is required to be given for completion of these projects,” CM Soren said.
Those present in the review meeting included chief secretary Sukhdev Singh, principal secretary Rajeev Arun Ekka and DGP Neeraj Sinha among other senior IAS officers.
