THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as naxals started striking directly at the state police, as many as 16 police stations in the Northern districts continue to be vulnerable to naxal strikes as the measures prescribed to fortify these stations remain on paper even after a year.
While financial crunch of the government has been officially cited as reason for inordinate delay, police sources point out that it required only around Rs 3 crore for ensuring minimum work.
Setting up of high boundary walls, trenches and even watch towers in some police stations were the fortification measures prescribed. The main objective was to plug the chances of naxals easily barging into the police stations or carrying out a direct gunfire attack from outside.
About a year back, the police department evaluated the risk faced by the police stations in naxal affected areas of northern districts.
Subsequently 16 police stations located close to forest areas were identified to be vulnerable to sudden attacks and were prescribed the fortification measures.
The government granted nod for fortification plans and the Kerala Police Housing Construction Corporation was entrusted with the work.
The corporation did the basic paper work required for commencing. But it came to a standstill thereafter as the government did not allot the required funds. “In order to carry out the work we require funds,” a KPHCC official said.
Meanwhile, police sources said that though naxal affected states get special funds from the centre for security and development activities, Kerala was being deprived of it as the state is yet to be considered a naxal hit by the centre. “It is high time that the state government strongly take up the matter with the centre,” said a senior police officer.
