•Apropos of your editorial ‘Only violence’ (IE, October 8), although perfect parallels cannot be drawn between the LTTE and the Maoists in India, we must learn from the former that any delay in tackling terrorist violence and being un-able to frame a definite long-term policy only results in immense loss of life and property, as well as eroding faith in democratic institutions. The Naxalites have been killing civilians consistently, and ruthlessly, exposing the hollowness of their so-called “ideology” and their claim to develop tribal areas.

Maoist violence is a war against democracy, propagated by a creed of bloodshed. Hence, whatever their contentions, this murderous approach can never be accommodated in any democratic set-up. The state administrations must wage a ruthless and all-out war against them.

— Ved Guliani

Hisar

• The report ‘CCS clears anti-Naxal operations’ and Binayak Sen’s interview (IE, October 9) clearly show that for most people the Maoist movement has become synonymous with senseless killing. It is also clear that Naxalites are not fighting for the downtrodden. A vast majority of the Maoist cadre is brainwashed by a small minority of so-called commanders. Whenever a state government takes any step against the insurgents, there’s a hue and cry over the move against such “misguided elements”. The shameful act is a grim pointer to the entrenchment of Naxalites across the

country. There is absolutely no place for violence and fanaticism in a democracy.

— Vinod C. Dixit

Ahmedabad

•The huge toll on lives of innocent civilians and security personnel because of Maoist violence asks for a fitting response to this challenge. The brutal beheading of Francis Induwar, when the government didn’t yield to their illegitimate demand to “swap” the officer for arrested Naxalites, calls for a decisive blow to the Maoists. What is the government waiting for? Since the

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