‘Urban Naxals’ Have Influence In 18 States Across The Country, Security Agencies Tell Government  

Over-ground Left-Wing Extremist (LWE) elements, called ‘Urban Naxals’ by some, have influence in 18 states across the country, security agencies have told the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a report.

According to a report in The Tribune, the security agencies have also said that these elements have influence in states which are not directly affected by Naxalism, including Gujarat and Punjab.

The MHA has asked agencies to provide regular intelligence about left-wing activists with Maoist leanings to the Multi-Agency Centre.

“The ministry is also in the receipt demand from the two states that they should also be extended grants on the lines of security-related expenditure given to the Naxal violence-affected states,” a senior official said.

According to a note obtained by police, “allegedly prepared by suspected Maoist ideologue Kobad Ghandy”, the left-wing extremists plan to target Surat-Pune industrial corridor, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Coimbatore.

Last month, the Maharashtra Police had arrested multiple ‘Urban Naxals’ from the different part of the country. The Supreme Court has rejected a plea by left-leaning activists to intervene in the issue.

According to LiveLaw, the Supreme Court had said that the far-left activists were not arrested for dissent. The activists had alleged in their plea that the arrests were an attempt to muzzle dissent.