Clearing the air on whether the Air Force has been allowed to fire back at Naxals in case its helicopters come under attack, Defence Minister A K Antony on Thursday said that the proposal was under consideration but a decision was yet to be taken.

While the minister has in the past made it clear that he is against the use of armed forces in internal security, he said on Thursday that the IAF’s proposal to fire back at Maoist rebels in self-defence was being considered by the ministry but no decision had been taken.

Sources pointed out that the proposal from IAF was currently with the Defence Ministry and refuted reports that it would need to go to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) for a clearance.

“This is a matter that will be decided by the Defence Ministry. It does not need to be taken to the CCS. We will take a decision on it after a careful consideration,” a highly placed official of the Defence Ministry said, indicating that the decision would not be taken in a hurry.

Earlier in the day, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik said that if the government granted it permission to fire back at Naxals, Special Forces commandoes would be deployed in IAF helicopters operating in Maoist-hit areas.

“It is not a free for all like Rambo that we will go and fire in the countryside. (If a decision is taken) the helicopters operating for casualty evacuation will be mounted with guns and the Garud force will man them,” Naik said, talking to reporters on the sidelines of the 77th Air Force Day parade at the Hindan airbase.

... contd.