Naxals building urban network from slums in Mumbai, Pune and other cities: Police

File photo for representation. PTI

Police on Tuesday said that Naxals are trying to expand their urban footprint in Maharashtra by roping in youngsters from poor sections in slums in big cities like Mumbai and Pune for military tasks and setting up safe havens.

Special IG, anti-naxal operations (Maharashtra) Sandip Patil told newswire PTI that Naxals are trying to direct the discontent among youngsters from low-income groups living in urban slum pockets against the government.

"In their documents, Naxals have mentioned that their 'urban network' is quite strong in cities like Mumbai, Nagpur, Nasik, Pune and Gondia," the senior police officer said.

Naxalites are targeting youngsters from lower socioeconomic groups living in slums for spreading the Maoist ideology and for (engaging them in) military tasks, he added.

"They are trying to rope them in for logistical tasks involving ordnance, arms and ammunition, medical help, and for building safe havens in forest and urban localities," he said.

Naxals mentioned in their secret documents that their network is quite strong in slum areas in Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, Nagpur and Gondia, Patil said.

"They are trying to attract youngsters from lower socioeconomic groups living in slums. They want to capitalize on the negative mentality among these youngsters struck by poverty and domestic problems. They want to turn this sentiment against the government," the police officer said.

Explaining how Naxalites are playing on the psychology of target groups and trying to fish in troubled waters, Patil said their organisations pretend that they are fighting in the interest of the people but their real motive is to spread Maoist ideology.

Queried on the counter-strategy by the police, Patil said such organisations are on the radar of the police and certainly action will taken against them.

Last month, important decisions were taken to address the problems caused by the Naxal ideology in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, during a recent state-level committee meeting that was presided over by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other important officials attended the meeting, held in Nagpur, which was centred on a thorough plan for security and rehabilitation.

CM Shinde stressed that rehabilitating those displaced by the Naxal conflict and those who have chosen to renounce the extremist ideology is of utmost importance. (With inputs from PTI)