Chidambaram to review strategy to combat Maoists

In a bid to help states to coordinate their campaign against Naxals, the Centre has convened a crucial meeting of four Maoist-affected states --West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand -- in Kolkata on Tuesday.

In a bid to help states to coordinate their campaign against Naxals, the Centre has convened a crucial meeting of four Maoist-affected states --West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand -- in Kolkata on Tuesday.

HT Image

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren will attend the meeting, which will be chaired by Home Minister P Chidambaram.

The meeting will review at length the strategy adopted to deal with Maoists in the three states and coordination among them as the Naxals often flee from one state to another after committing a crime, official sources said.

The discussion is expected to focus on the offensive to be launched at the interstate junctions of West Bengal-Jharkhand or Bihar-Jharkhand as such areas are considered to be a hotbed of left wing extremists.

Developmental issues will also be discussed during the day-long meeting.

Top police brass of the the four states and DGPs of CRPF and BSF will attend the day-long deliberations.