Maoists getting encouragement from civil society: WB Governor

Kolkata, Jan 21 (PTI) Maoists were gettingencouragement from civil society and support of well-mindedcitizens was required to stem the menace, West Bengal GovernorM K Narayanan said today.

"The Maoists are getting the upperhand in people''smind because they are getting encouragement from a section ofcivil society," Narayanan told a seminar here.

Citing the example of human rights activists BinayakSen who has been found guilty of sedition and sentenced tolife imprisonment, he said there were protests from a sectionof the society over his conviction.

"We need the support of well minded citizen so thatmatters don''t go out of control," he said.

Expressing concern over the spreading influence ofMaoists, Narayanan said, "Maoism has become a fashionabletrend in different states including West Bengal and studentsin different universities are getting attracted."

Holding that Maoists were a serious problem tointernal security, the former IB chief said, "A decade agoMaoists were present in five or six states, but it has spreadto over 15 or 16 states with West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand,Orissa, Chattishgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra being theworst affected."

Stating that 2009 and 2010 were worst years because ofa number of deaths due to Maoist insurgency, the formernational security advisor said, "The Maoists are targettingmass casualty with new operational techniques, so onlystrengthening of security will not solve the problem.

"We need to take a comprehensive, encompassing,political, economical and security approach to reach asatisfactory solution to the Maoist problem." PTI SAG PC