Naxalism: follow police action with growth

As the chief ministers underlined the need for specialised training for police personnel engaged in anti-Naxal operations,the Home Minister assured them that the Centre would enhance its training capacity to meet the increased need for such training.

On development as a means to fight the Naxal menace,Chidambaram is learnt to have pointed out the importance of increasing connectivity in remote parts of the states with a better road and communication network.

Given the unanimity over continuing the police action against the Naxals,some of the states are learnt to have demanded helicopters for transporting security personnel and those injured in operations.

Significantly,the Home Minister was also reported to have expressed no objection in defensive action by village communities,in an indirect reference to Salwa Judum,a peoples movement against Naxalism in BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh.

While the states agreed for joint operations,Jharkhand and Bihar,two of the worst Naxal-affected states,advocated a formal surrender policy to help the militants who want to join the mainstream.