Maoists planning to attack major cities: Official

New Delhi, Apr 4: Maoists are planning to attack major cities and trying to enhance their strike capabilities in the urban areas, a senior official said.

According to the official, "The Maoists want to strike in cities to divert the attention of the security forces which are intensifying their operations in the jungles of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal."

Top Maoists leaders are in regular contact with their sympathisers, specially students, in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune and encouraging them to provide necessary support to the Naxal cadres.

"Once they are convinced about their capabilities, they will try to strike in the cities," the official said.

Security agencies have gathered specific information that in the wake of continued operations by forces

"We can't take the threat of Maoists in the cities lightly. So, we are taking action for that," the official said.

A total of 908 people have lost their lives in Naxal violence in 2009 and the security agencies believe that violence may go up this year and the next year.

OneIndia News