Cabinet Committee of Security clears anti-Maoist plan

With Maoists striking at will, the Cabinet Committee of Security on Thursday approved the government's new plan to counter Maoists, under which the infested states will have an effective coordination and the police will take a lead role.

The CCS, presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, gave the clearance to the plan, a day after Union Home Minister P Chidambaram warned the Maoists to abjure violence or face action. According to the plan worked out by the Union Home Ministry, the anti-Maoist operations will be undertaken in states affected by Left-wing extremism and would be assisted by the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, a central force.

The two-hour CCS meeting did not discuss whether or not the Indian Air Force should be given permission to fire at Maoists. The CCS clearance came in the backdrop of a police inspector being beheaded by Maoists in Jharkhand, a week after kidnapping him, and on a day when 17 policemen were gunned down by Maoists in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district.

The Home Ministry went to CCS for its approval after the plan was discussed threadbare with chief ministers of Maost-affected states in the second week of September. Officials said the plan envisages the anti-Maoist operations to be led by the state police while Central police forces will lend assistance.

According to the plan, once an area is cleared of the Maoists, developmental activities could be carried out in full swing so that the Maoists cannot return. Air Force and Border Security Force helicopters will be used for reinforcements and evacuation of casualties only but not for any offensive.

The operations will be carried out in 20 states affected by the Maoist menace and they will also share intelligence. The police will have the mandate to cross inter-state borders in the hunt for Maoists.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in September described Left-wing extremism as the gravest internal security threat and called for a nuanced strategy to tackle Maoist violence which, despite best efforts by the security forces, continues to plague many parts of the country.

"We have not achieved as much success as we would have liked in containing it. It is a matter of concern that despite our efforts, the level of violence in the affected states continues to rise," he had said.

Home Minister P Chidambaram has said the Maoists have their influence in 20 states across the country.

"Over 2,000 police station areas in 223 districts in these states are partially or substantially affected by the menace," he had said.