Army not to be deployed in anti-Naxal ops: Defence minister

Emphasises strengthening of local police and central forces to put an end to Naxalism

Union Defence Minister A K Antony has dismissed possibility of deployment of the army in the anti-naxal operations in Chhattisgarh and called for strengthening of local police and para military forces in addressing the Naxal issues.

Speaking to the reporters in Thanjavur, in Tamil Nadu, in a function to dedicate the new Air Force Station to the nation, he said that the real answer to the issues is to strengthen the local and central police forces.

This was in answer to a question on whether the centre plans to deploy the army in the Naxal influenced area in the backdrop of the latest maoist ambush of a convoy, in Chhattisgarh, which killed several congress workers.

He added that the kind of violence is not acceptable and as a democracy, there are procedures, institutions and opportunity for anybody to express their opinion and demands.

The new station in Thanjavur would have an important role to play in protecting the assets in the Southern parts of the country, since the industrial and economic assets are growing in a fast pace.