New Delhi, April 13: In the wake of Dantewada massacre of 76 security personnel, the Union Home Ministry tonight decided to ask Naxal-affected states to take pro-active action through their own forces and promised them all help in the task.
An hour-long review meeting chaired by Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai decided that the Home Ministry will continue to provide paramilitary forces, weapons, ammunition and other logistics to the state police forces engaged in anti-Maoist offensive, sources said.
Ministry officials felt involvement of state police force personnel were not at the desired level in the operations though it was absolutely necessary as they were more familiar with the forests and hills, which have become Naxal hideouts, in comparison to central paramilitary personnel who normally come from outside the state.
Only one Chhattisgarh Police head constable was accompanying the CRPF team which was attacked by Maoists on in Dantewada April six killing 76 of them.
The Centre also stressed on massive jungle warfare training for both central and state police forces before their deployment in anti-Naxal offensive, sources said.
The ongoing operation in all Maoist-affected states will continue with additional reinforcement of central paramilitary personnel, they said.
The meeting also took stock of the situation in Chhattisgarh in the wake of the Dantewada incident and the mistakes committed by the security men during the operation.
However, no decision has been taken on a change of operational strategy as such a decision will be taken in the presence of Home Minister P Chidambaram, who is away, and after submission of the inquiry report by former chief of BSF E N Rammohan, the sources said.
–PTI