India ranks third among world nations most inflicted with terrorism and insurgency related deaths, after the areas ridden with violence by ISIS and Nigeria’s Boko Haram, the Supreme Court was told today.

Making this submission, the Chhattisgarh government also claimed in the apex court that more people were being killed in this Naxal-affected state than terror-hit Jammu and Kashmir and the involvement of extreme left-wing activists in the area was adding fuel to the fire.

“India ranks third in the world among the countries which are impacted by terrorism and inflicted with terror related deaths after the violence affected areas under ISIS and Boko Haram,” Mehta said. He also urged the court to pass some directions for keeping social activists like Nandini Sundar out of the area alleging that “they just want the flame to keep burning”.

Mehta, who appeared along with Chhattisgarh government standing counsel Atul Jha, said “we can’t go out of the area. It is a state and government will have to look after the people. We have responsibilities towards the people”.

When the bench asked the Chhattisgarh government about the security of political activist Manish Kunjam, Mehta said he was already under security cover.

Maintaining that he had initially said he does not need guards carrying rifles but those with smaller weapons, he said “now he again wanted rifle guards. We can provide that. If he wants central forces security cover that can also be provided. We are ready to provide central security cover to even petitioner Nandini Sundar.”

.