Chidambaram reviews anti-Naxal plans of five states

Ahead of the full-fledged operations against Naxals, Home Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday took stock of the security situation in five Maoists-affected states and favoured coordinated efforts to deal with the extremists.

Ahead of the full-fledged operations against Naxals, Home Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday took stock of the security situation in five Maoists-affected states and favoured coordinated efforts to deal with the extremists.

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Chidambaram had a lengthy meeting with Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Bihar and Maharashtra, where the officials briefed him on the steps being taken to deal with the Maoists.

Sources said the meeting reviewed the states' preparedness, availability of forces and other operational aspects.

The meeting stressed on the need for immediate launching of full-fledged operations in these states, they said.

Chidambaram also took stock of development programmes to be carried out by the state governments in the Maoist-dominated areas once they are cleared from the clutches of Naxals through the operations.

The meeting bears significance as it comes immediately after the Jharkhand Assembly elections, which delayed the much-awaited large-scale coordinated anti-Naxal operations spanning across five states.