Anti-Maoist fight to go on for over two years, says Chidambaram

Maoists have changed strategy and shifted to low-intensity conflict, Union home minister P Chidambaram said during a visit to Naxalite heartland Lalgarh in West Bengal on Sunday.
Calling Maoists cowards, he said they are realising their gradually weakening grip over traditional strongholds in the face of heavy offensive by security personnel.

“Their motive is to regroup and restart a full-fledged operation at a later stage. But we are vigilant and the security forces will gradually regain total control over them in due course. This will be a long-drawn process and it will take around two-and-a-half years,” Chidambaram said.

Political analysts believe that the Union home minister’s visit to Lalgarh and making such statements served the dual purpose of challenging the ultra-red guerrillas and assuring the locals that the government is determined to restore law and order in the area. Chidambaram, however, ruled out the possibility of involving the army in the counter-offensive against Maoists — a longstanding demand of Mamata Banerjee.

He interacted with security personnel deputed in the region. He also interacted with the locals.

Reacting to speculations about Maoist silence on rumours of death of underground leader Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji, he said intelligence agencies still do not fully subscribe to the gossip of his death.