Air Force may be used against Naxalites?

In the wake of Naxal terror strike,Chidambaram said he may have to 'revisit' mandate on use of air force.

Cautioning against any ‘knee-jerk’ reactions to yesterday’s ‘savage’ attack by the Maoists,Home Minister P Chidambaram today said the government may have to ‘revisit’ the mandate on use of Air Force in the offensive against Naxalites.

Maintaining that a “war” has been thrust on government,he told a press conference here that “at this moment we must remain calm and hold our nerves” in our campaign to rid India of the grave threat of Maoists and to save democracy.

Chidambaram,who flew in here to pay respects to the 75 CRPF personnel and Chhattisgarh Police head constable who were killed by the Maoists in Dantewada forests yesterday,first ruled out any proposal to use army in the fight against the Naxalites.

“There is no proposal to use army. We think the state police assisted by Central paramilitary forces are sufficient to overcome the Naxalite threat. It is our present assessment of the threat,” he said.

However,answering another question,he said,”at present there is no mandate to use the Air Force or any aircraft. But if necessary,we will have to revisit the mandate to make some changes”.

Chidambaram was accompanied by Governor Shekhar Dutt and Chief Minister Raman Singh.

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