No plans to deploy army in anti-Maoist operations, says home ministry official

The government has no plans to deploy the army to tackle the Maoists, notwithstanding reverses being faced by paramilitary and police forces, a home ministry official said on Tuesday.

“It is an internal security issue. There is no question of deploying the army in the anti-Maoist operations,” the official said.

Since Maoist violence is considered a law and order problem, paramilitary and police forces will continue to deal with them, even though there have been casualties on the part of the security forces, the official said.

The comments came in the wake of speculations that the government was considering the option of deploying the army.

The Indian Air Force provides logistical support to the anti-Maoist forces by offering chopper sorties for the evacuation of injured, sick, air dropping of food, medicine and other essentials.

As many as 25 CRPF personnel were killed on Monday in an attack by the rebels in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district.

On March 11, 12 paramilitary personnel were killed in the same district.

On April 6, 2010, 75 CRPF personnel and a constable of the state police were massacred by the Maoists in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh.