Defence Minister AK Antony yesterday ruled out the deployment of the Army in anti-Maoist operations in Chhattisgarh and said police and paramilitary will have to be strengthened to fight the rebels.
Anthony was speaking to reporters at Thanjavur, where he dedicated a new air force station which will house Sukhoi fighter jets.
Tributes: Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi yesterday paid tribute to party leaders and persons killed in the Maoist attack. Pic/AFP
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In the backdrop of Saturday’s Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh, the minister ruled out any plans to deploy the army in the troubled area.
He said the real answer to the problem was to strengthen police and paramilitary forces to counter the Maoists.
The minister said training of Sri Lankan armed forces will not be done in Tamil Nadu respecting the sentiments of the people in the state.
On the new air force station, Antony said it would strengthen the air defence capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in general and the Southern Command in particular.
Timeline of major Naxal attacks in the past
July 2010: A group of Maoists stormed into the house of Cong leader Avdesh Gautam in Dantewada district and brutally killed his 15-year-old brother-in-law and an associate.
April 6, 2010: In the most brutal Maoist attack, about 75 CRPF and a state police personnel were killed in Dantewada district.
April 13, 2009: 10 paramilitary troopers killed in eastern Odisha when Maoists attacked a bauxite mine in Koraput district.
October 8, 2009: 17 policemen killed in an ambush by Maoists at the Laheri police station in Gadchiroli district.u00a0
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