Army won't be involved in anti-Naxal operations: Home Secretary R K Singh

RAIPUR: The Home Ministry on Tuesday ruled out involvement of the Army in anti-Naxal operations but said more paramilitary forces will be deployed for intensified operations in Maoists-hit areas to flush out the extremists.

Union Home Secretary R K Singh said a judicial inquiry has been ordered by the Chhattisgarh government to find out the lapses and fix responsibility for the Saturday's attack on Congress leaders in the state's Bastar region where 27 people, including PCC chief Nand Kumar Patel, were killed.

"We will not involve the Army. There is no need to call the Army. Neither have we asked them. But we will send more (paramilitary) forces," he told reporters when asked about the possibility of involvement of armed forces in anti-Naxal operations.

Singh, who is on a tour to Chhattisgarh to review security situation in the wake of the deadly attack on Congress' 'Parivartan Yatra', said the government has been able to carry out many development programmes in Chhattisgarh in last three years and the Maoist were on the backfoot.

"We have come here so that we can plan to speed up the developmental process. This incident will not lead to the process getting weakened. It will be strengthened. Our forces have modern arms and ammunition. We have taken note of the areas where we lack modern equipment," he said.

The Home Secretary said the Maoists were in the back foot even in areas like Gadchiroli district in Maharashtra, some areas in Odisha and security forces in these states were coordinating with each other to fight the Naxals.

"There is inter-border movement of Maoists. This is such terrain -- Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha -- where there is poor communication. So, they often sneak into another state from one state. Our operations will continue and will be further intensified," he said.

Singh said the Maoists killed innocent and unarmed people in cold blood and all civilised people should condemn it.