Centre convenes crucial anti-Naxal meeting of three affected states

In a bid to help states to coordinate their campaign against Naxals, the Centre has convened a crucial meeting of three Maoist-affected states --Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Maharashtra -- in Raipur on Friday.

Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh, Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik and Maharashtra deputy chief minister RR Patil will attend the meeting, which will be chaired by home minister P Chidambaram.

The meeting will review in length about the strategy adopted to deal with the Maoists in the three states and coordination among them as the Naxals often flee from one state to another after committing a crime, official sources said.

The discussion is expected to focus on the offensive to be launched in the tri-junction of the Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Maharashtra as the area is considered to be hot-bed of the left wing extremists. Top police brass of the three states and DGPs of CRPF and BSF will attend the day-long deliberations.