Talks with Maoists a futile exercise, says police chief

Raipur, July 7 (UNI) Chhattisgarh police wants to adopt a policy of 'hot pursuit' against the Maoist rebels active in the state as it feels that there is no other effective option to end the Naxalite menace.

"It's the only option. Any talks with the rebels are a futile exercise and a waste of time", state's new Director General of Police Vishwaranjan told newsmen here.

"The Maoists are just not interested in any talks. They only utilise the opportunity to re-group themselves and gain more strength", he added.

Mr Vishwaranjan said the state police would adopt a tit for tat policy against the Maoist rebels. However, he admitted that it would be a long drawn task to challenge the Naxalites, active mostly in the tribal areas of the state.

Replying to a question about 'salwa judum', the ongoing anti-naxalite movement in tribal Bastar region, he said the peoples' movement against the rebels was a success and even Maoists themselves were worried about the movement spreading to other neighbouring states.

Quoting intelligence inputs, Mr Vishwaranjan said the Maoists had eliminated Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Member of Parliament Sunil Mehto as they suspected that he was trying to motivate the people to launch a 'salwa judum' like movement against Naxalites in Jharkhand.

Mr Vishwaranjan, who till recently was posted as Additional Director of Intelligence Bureau, said the Maoists have individual contacts with leaders of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and other insurgent groups active in Kashmir and North Eastern states but there was no confirmation about their links at the organisational level.

Replying to a question, the DGP confirmed arrested of two top Maoist leaders, including Nirmala alias Nirmala Akka who is the zonal secretary of Maoist outfit Dandakaranya Krantikari Mahila Sangathan. Their arrest would help gather information about the organisational activities of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), he added.

UNI