Chidambaram invites Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal CMs for anti-Naxal meeting

New Delhi, Feb. 20 (ANI): Ahead of the launch of inter-state operations against Naxals, Home Minister P Chidambaram has invited the Chief Ministers of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal for a meeting in New Delhi to obtain their endorsement for a "tentative" anti-Naxal plan.

"You will kindly appreciate that before the tentative conclusions are translated into decisions and implemented, it is necessary to be assured that the Governments of both West Bengal and Jharkhand fully endorse the plan," Chidambaram wrote.

In his letter to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Chidambaram wrote: "You will kindly appreciate that before the tentative conclusions are translated into decisions and implemented, it is necessary to be assured that your government fully endorses the plan presented by the Home Secretary/DGP of Bihar."

"I invite you to visit Delhi with your senior officers as early as possible so that we may follow up on the Kolkata meeting and formulate a plan of action," he added.

On February 9, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibhu Soren had skipped a similar meeting with Chidambaram on tackling the menace.

West Bengal witnessed the worst attack by Maoists from Jharkhand on a police camp (Eastern Frontier Rifles) at Silda in West Midnapore early this week in which 24 jawans were killed.

In another attack, Maoists killed 11 villagers in Kodasi Phulwaria village in Jamui District in Bihar this week. (ANI)