Raipur, Feb 9: The

Raipur, Feb. 4 : Chhattisgarh home minister Nankiram Kanwar informed the assembly on Wednesday that 241 people fell victim to the Naxal violence in the state during the last year.

In his written reply to a question by Congress MLA Haridhar Bharadwaj, the home minister said, "Naxalites have killed 241 persons in the state between January 1, 2008 and January 12, 2009".

"During this period, 82 of extremists were killed in police encounters, and 431 Naxalites and Sangam members were also arrested," he said.

Raipur, Feb 2 : The growing Maoist violence in Chhattisgarh is leading to a loss of identity among tribal children who have lost their parents in the Naxalite attacks or whose parents have been lodged in Salwa Judum camps.

Gayatri Parivar, a self-help group has come to the rescue of these children and has already adopted 26 girls, from the Maoist affected area.

Raipur, Jan 29 (ANI): To fight the rising insurgency activities of Maoists in India''s central hinterland, police in Chhattisgarh are being trained in guerrilla warfare.

The ill-equipped and ill-trained policemen have proved to be unsuccessful in saving vast parts of the region. Ironically these may include some of the richest areas, home to huge deposits of iron or aluminum ore.

Apparently, the Government lacks a coherent strategy to combat the menace created by Maoist activists.

Raipur, Jan. 28 : Chattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said on Tuesday that the problem of naxalism can be countered with talks and dialogues as war is not a solution
to it.

"We do not want that there should be a war. We want that the matter should be sorted out with talks and I would welcome the option of talks with the Maoists," said the CM
Raman Singh here.

He further noted that all the States, grappling with the terror of the Maoists, needed to enhance inter-state co-operation.

Bastar (Chhattisgarh), Jan. 27 : Moves by Tata Steel, India''s largest steel maker, to start a steel project in the Lohandiguda Block of this district, has been condemned by the farmers' community.

Tata Steel has offered a compensation package that includes giving jobs, Rs. 100, 000 per hectare of barren land, Rs. 150, 000 per acre of single crop-land and Rs. 200,
000 per acre of multi-crop land.

The steel major has also promised one acre and a maximum 2.47-acre land under `land for land compensation scheme'' for those who are losing 75 to 100 percent of their land.