Army to fight Maoist menace?

In what can be seen as an indication of the government's strategy to push for army deployment, union minister of state for home affairs Gurdas Kamat said on Tuesday that the security forces were on the receiving end in the battle against Maoists. HT reports.

In what can be seen as an indication of the government's strategy to push for army deployment, union minister of state for home affairs Gurdas Kamat said on Tuesday that the security forces were on the receiving end in the battle against Maoists.

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“Till now, state police and central reserve forces have been battling Left extremism but other options are always open,” said Kamat on being asked if the Centre was looking at the army to take on the Left rebels. The minister was speaking at the All India Police Science Congress here.

“I have visited the Maoist-affected areas in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa. Things are not good there,” he said. A section of army personnel were being trained in the Maoist-infested Chhattisgarh, the minister said.

The police research wing would have to device measures to prevent losing security personnel in Naxal attacks. “I have asked the Bureau of Police Research and Development to incorporate this issue as priority in their research.”

To another query, Kamat said central assistance for modernisation of police would be based on the record of the states in using such funds. Massive diversion of funds meant for modernisation of police had forced the Centre to withdraw the assistance two years back, he said. The government had revived the aid and would continue it for 10 years. “It will, however, be done after assessing the needs of a state.”