No decision yet on use of air power against Naxals: Prime minister

In the wake of worst-ever Naxal attack, prime minister Manmohan Singh today said all options like using air power in the fight against Maoists are "reviewed" from time to time and parried questions on Union home minister P Chidambaram's suggestion in this regard.

"I think, the policy has to be reviewed practically from time to time, learning from experience. (But) we are too close to the event to take a view that the existing policy needs to be modified," he told reporters when asked whether the government was planning to revisit the anti-Naxal strategy.

Chidambaram had said that government may have to reconsider its policy of not using air force in the fight against Naxalites.

Asked whether use of air-power was being considered, Singh said, "All these options are kept open and continuously reviewed.... As of now, we have not taken any view in this direction."

Singh was talking to media persons at Rashtrapati Bhavan after presentation of Padma Awards.

Naxals struck in a big way in Dantewada in Chhattisgarh yesterday, killing 76 CRPF personnel.