Red menace: PC asks Jharkhand to get cracking

Delivering a wake-up call to Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren who is considered soft on Naxals, Home Minister P Chidambaram asked the chief minister to give “clear directions” to the state police to resolutely face the challenge of Naxalism. HT Correspondent reports.

Delivering a wake-up call to Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren who is considered soft on Naxals, Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday asked the chief minister to give “clear directions” to the state police to resolutely face the challenge of Naxalism.

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He said Friday’s explosion that killed seven policemen in Jharkhand was “a loud and clear signal” to the new government.

“I sincerely hope that the new government in Jharkhand will quickly settle down and give clear directions to the state police and the state administration to resolutely face the challenge of Naxalism,” Chidambaram said in a statement to condemn the landmine blast.

“There was no provocation for this act of mindless violence… Yet, the team became the target of attack and eight precious lives were lost,” the home minister said.

The home minister’s statement come in the backdrop of reports of demoralisation within the Jharkhand police after Soren questioned the counter-offensive against Naxals.

The chief minister — accused of receiving Maoist support during the recent polls — made it clear that he preferred talks, rather than confrontation, to curb Naxals.