Development can help combat Maoist activities in India: CRPF

New Delhi, Apr 23 (ANI): The Special Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Aniruddh Uppal on Monday said the initiation of development projects in Maoist-hit areas would help combat left wing extremists activities.

Talking to mediapersons after attending a CRPF investiture ceremony in New Delhi, Uppal said the CRPF is working jointly with the state police to curb Maoists activities in several states.

"We try our best to contain Maoist activities in left-wing extremism hit areas. The central forces and state police force work jointly to curb Maoist activities because the central forces are there to help the state police. If we work hand in hand, then we will surely be successful," said Uppal.

"The problem of Maoism is not only related to security forces. There are several other issues related to the problem of Maoism like development, education etc. The government is working towards these factors, and I am sure if we work together, then we will successfully combat Maoism," he added.

Despite strong measures initiated by the central government, the Maoist insurgency has gripped nearly a third of the country in its violent tentacles, spreading into the interiors of 20 of India's 28 states.

Recently, in a spate of abductions, Maoists kidnapped a district collector in Chhattisgarh.

Alex Paul Menon, District Collector of Chattisgarh's Sukma District, was kidnapped by Maoists on Saturday from Majhipara village in the Keralapal area of the Naxal-infected district.

The kidnapping comes even as uncertainty continues over the fate of Orissa's ruling BJD MLA Jhina Hikaka in neighbouring Orissa who was abducted by Maoists about a month ago.

Menon, 32, is the first collector of Sukma after it was carved out of Dantewada District as a new district, and was known to be pro-active in undertaking development work in the backward region. (ANI)