'Anti-naxal operations will be intensified': R.K. Singh

Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh today said anti-Naxal operations will be intensified with more security forces and modern weapons being provided by the Central Government to the affected regions.

"We will coordinate with Naxal-hit states adjoining Chhattisgarh and forces and modern weapons would be provided by the Centre for anti-Naxal operations," he told mediapersons after holding a meeting of senior officials at the police headquarters here.

The Union Home Secretary, who was here to hold a review meeting with senior state officials regarding the Saturday's Naxal attack on Congress leaders, also made it clear that the Army will not be a part of the operations against the Maoists.

"We will not involve the army. There is no need to call the Army. Neither have we asked them. But we will send more (paramilitary) forces," he said, when asked to comment on the role of the army to tackle the Naxal threat.

Singh further said a judicial inquiry has been set up to find out the error.

"The state government has requested the honourable Chief Justice to nominate a sitting judge. We will come to know where was the error," he said.

Singh further said there is proper coordination with the neighbouring state governments, and added that the ultras are on the backfoot at several paces.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has begun its probe into the brutal attack by the Maoists on Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had earlier said the NIA will probe the Maoist attack on Congress leaders and the Centre has received a go-ahead from Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh for it. Shinde had also briefed Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh about the decision to hand over the investigation to NIA.

Heavily-armed Maoists had on Saturday ambushed a convoy of Congress leaders in the state's Bastar district, killing 28 people including PCC chief Nand Kumar Patel, his son Dinesh, Congress leader Mahendra Karma and ex-MLA Uday Mudliyar and injuring 32 others.

Former Union Minister V.C. Shukla injured in the attack is being treated at a Medanta hospital in Gurgaon. His condition is stated to be critical, but stable.