Govt to decide if armed forces needed to tackle Naxals: PV Naik

Pointing out that tackling Maoist violence was the job of police and paramilitary forces, the armed forces today said the decision to involve them in the anti-Naxal operations will be taken by the government if the other agencies fail deal with the menace.

"We have to see the scale of Maoist movement. If the scale is so that police and paramilitary forces are unable to handle it, then it will be government's decision to involve the services. But, by and large, this is a job to be done by the paramilitary and police forces," Air Chief Marshal PV Naik said in New Delhi after taking over as the chairman, Chief of Staffs Committee in the capital.

He was asked if the services would be involved in tackling internal security problems, like the ones Maoists are causing in several states in the country.

At the moment, the role of services in anti-Naxal operations has been limited to providing logistical support to the paramilitary forces as the IAF operates its choppers for transporting troops and equipment in the Naxal-affected areas. It lost one of its men while ferrying ballot boxes during the general elections last year.