The government on Tuesday ruled out use of air power in the fight against Naxalites and admitted obviously some element of failure in the operations led to the killing of 75 security personnel in Chhattisgarh today. In a brief statement, the Home Secretary said that there were some element of failure in the operation.
"Preliminary reports indicate that the CPI(Maoists) had planted pressure bombs in surrounding areas where the security forces might take cover. As a result of this bulk of the casualties have taken place," he said. Pillai said all the 82 personnel who had participated in the operation have been accounted for and none has been captured by the Maoists.
Elaborating on goverment stategy to take on the Naxals, the home secretary said, "I don't think we need to use air power at the moment (in the anti-naxal operation). We can manage with what we have. Our strategy is unfolding and we should be able to manage without air power," Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai told reporters here.
However, he made it clear that the air power will be used only for evacuation and for mobility of troops.
Pillai called the Maoists "murderers" and said the government's resolve was strengthened and it would continue to tackle the Maoist menace as planned.
The home secretary said the CRPF personnel returning to its base camp after two days of operations when the early hours of this morning it came under fire from hill features just about four kilometres from its base camp.
"As of now 74 CRPF personnel, including a Deputy Commandant and an Assistant Commandant and a Head Constable of state police force have died. Seven injured have been brought to Jagdalpur," he said. He said those who have gone from the base camp -- to rescue the attacked team, also came under fire.
"One of the helicopter which has been dispatched to bring in the injured personnel also came under fire from the Maoists," he added.PTI
