Maoist guerrillas were forging ties with insurgents in the northeast to increase their sphere of influence, Home Minister P Chidambaram said on Monday while underlining that Maoist violence in the country was on the rise.

"In a bid to expand its influence it (Communist Party of India-Maoist) has been seeking alliance with secessionists and northeast insurgents... it is also lending support to their secessionist demands," Chidambaram said in his opening remarks at the conference of state police chiefs here.