Antony rules out sending armed forces to Lalgarh

Defence minister AK Antony today ruled out the possibility of sending armed forces to fight Maoists in the wake of violence in Lalgarh area in West Bengal.
 
Antony told reporters here that the armed forces can give only logistic support to the state police and paramilitary forces, who were already engaged in tackling the Naxals menace.

"Armed forces can give only logistic support. There is no idea to directly involve armed forces to fight Maoists," Antony said on the sideline of an Army function here.

Describing the Maoist violence as a matter of "serious concern to the entire nation," Antony said, "I feel the state police and paramilitary forces will be able to meet the challenge. They have to."