Maoists may have links with LeT: Raman Singh

NEW DELHI: Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh has said that Maoists may have forged links with Pakistan-based terror outfit, Lashkar-e-Toiba, but rejected the proposal to employ air strikes to flush them out of forests.

Mr Singh, who arrived in the Capital two days after Maoists carried out another major attack, is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and home minister P Chidambaram on Thursday in an attempt to persuade them to offer more support to the state’s anti-Maoist drive.

The menace could only be tackled through a more co-ordinated effort between the Centre and states, Mr Singh said on Wednesday. He was, for the moment, satisfied with the kind of support he was receiving from the prime minister and the home minister.

He heaped scorn on the Maoists, equating them with terrorists. ``Who else can be termed as terrorists? They are the biggest terrorists...Naxalism is the biggest challenge to democracy. They want to capture power at gun-point,’’ Mr Singh said when asked whether Maoists were terrorists.

Giving details of Naxal activities in last 10 years in the state, he said they have killed more than 1,000 civilians and over 650 policemen besides blowing up 132 electric towers, 106 school buildings and three hospitals in the state.

The chief minister said Maoists were better trained now as indicated by the recent incident in Dantewada. ``Though I have no confirmation some facts have come to light indicating that Naxals may have some connection with the Lashkar militants... The manner in which they are using IEDs, explosives and weapons with 100% technical surety shows there are experts behind this who are giving them training,’’ the chief minister said.

He said aerial support was welcome but air strikes could not be viewed as an option in Naxal-infested areas because it could have severe collateral damage.

``There are landmines in up to 100 km in an area. If there is a blast it will take hours to take the injured to hospital by road. Army helicopters can be used here. And also for supplying emergency rations,” Mr Singh said.

``But I don’t recommend use of air power as Chhattisgarh has a huge dense forest cover inhabited by tribals and if any such attack is launched, they will suffer greatly... Bombing is not possible in these areas. This is not a war,’’ he said.