New Delhi, Aug 15: Barring a Naxal attack on a CRPF camp in Jharkhand and hoisting of black flags by Maoists in Orissa, Independence Day today passed off peacefully in states, including Jammu and Kashmir, with chief ministers focussing on steps to improve law and order.
 Ultras in some northeastern states had given a call to boycott Independence Day functions which passed off without any untoward incident.
 In Jharkhand, Maoists fired on a CRPF camp triggering an encounter at Rania in Khunti district.
 According to Rania police station in-charge Raj Kapoor, the rebels opened fire soon after the flag hoisting ceremony at the CRPF camp.
 The security personnel also retaliated, police said, adding there was no immediate report of any casualty.
 The day passed off peacefully in the Kashmir Valley where security forces had stepped up vigil to foil any possible terror plans.
 In Orissa, Independence Day celebrations were marred by a boycott call and hoisting of black flags by Maoists at some places even as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asked the rebels to abjure violence and join the mainstream.
 Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said the security of the people in Mumbai and the rest of the state was the topmost priority of his government. Addressing a gathering after unfurling the tricolour on the occasion of the 65th Independence Day, Chavan said his government is committed to ensuring that people feel safe and secure in the state.
 Amid a boycott call by a rebel group in one part of the state and growing militant activities in another, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma asserted that insurgency, extortion and other anti-national activities would not be tolerated and dealt with a firm hand.
 As a bandh called by the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) brought life to a standstill in the four Khasi-Jaintia districts, Sangma expressed the need to be more vigilant as there were "fissiparous tendencies raising their ugly heads".
 Independence Day was celebrated in Manipur amid tight security deployment in view of the bodycott call given by eleven insurgent organisations with the main function being held at the 1st Manipur Rifles parade ground.
 Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda said the state’s surrender policy to control extremism has received a good response and several naxalites have been influenced by this policy and joined mainstream.
 Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jarbom Gamlin vowed to improve the law and order situation in the state and announced certain policies for strengthening law enforcing agencies.
 Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar appealed to insurgents to shun the path of violence and join mainstream to create a developed state.
 The ultras were still using the soil of neighbouring Bangladesh, cutting the barbed wire fencing to enter Indian territory and kidnapping people for ransom", he said.
 In a veiled attack on Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, Gujarat Narendra Modi said in Nadiad that it is a shame that people still visit homes of the poor for a photo-op.
 In Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said he would take "all-possible effective" measures to root out corruption in the state at all level with people's help.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST