Chidambaram to discuss strategy to battle Maoists threat

KOLKATA - Union Home Minister P Chidambaram will on Tuesday chair a meeting here that has been called by the Centre to help four Naxal-affected states of West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand to co-ordinate their campaign against the Naxals.

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren will attend today’s meeting and chalk out strategies to counter the Naxal threat.

Official sources have said the meeting will review at length the strategy adopted to deal with Naxals in the three States and co-ordination among them as Naxals often from one State to another after committing a crime.

The discussion today will stress on the offensive that will be launched at the interstate junctions of West Bengal-Jharkhand or Bihar-Jharkhand, as these areas are considered to be a breeding ground of the Naxalites.

Issues of development will also be discussed during the daylong meet.

Director General of Police (DGP)’s of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Border Security Force (BSF) will also attend the meeting along with the top police officials of the Naxal-affected four states.

Describing Naxalism as a grave threat, Chidambaram had on Sunday said that the Centre had announced that it would encourage the State governments to talk to Naxalites if they abjured violence, but they have spurned the offer. (ANI)