'No evidence of Chinese support to Maoists'

Noting that there are no evidence of China's support to insurgents and Maoists in the country, the government today played down the use of Chinese weapons by such groups.

Noting that there are no evidence of China's support to insurgents and Maoists in the country, the government on Saturday played down the use of Chinese weapons by such groups.

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Stating this on Saturday, government sources said Chinese arms are cheap and readily available in black market.

"Until you see actual signs of that kind... The fact that people are carrying Chinese weapons, that I don't think is worrying," a source said while responding to reports that Maoists are getting Chinese arms.

"There are weapons all over the place. The cheapest manufacturers are Chinese, look at South East Asia, Central Asia, Pakistan or Afghanistan," a source said, adding "So far at least everything else is supposition".

If there is Chinese state support to Indian insurgents and Maoists, that will be the "real worry", the source said, adding China has always denied this.

At the same time, the sources noted that the insurgent groups would like people to believe that they have Chinese support like Pakistan has been saying all the while.