No offensive roles for armed forces in Anti-Naxal ops: Centre

Government today said it would launch anti-Naxal operations at the time of its choosing but will not involve the armed forces in offensive roles.

"We would wait till the elections are over and then we will launch the operations at the time and place of our choosing," Home secretary GK Pillai told NDTV.

He said the strategy of the anti-Naxal operations has been discussed with the chief ministers of the Maoist-hit states in January and in August.

The state police would lead the anti-Naxal operations and paramilitary forces will be extending their "full support" to them, Pillai said.

On the use of armed forces in the anti-Naxal operations, he said, "I do not think there is any use of the Army in the current operation for securing the area.

"We are of course taking the help of IAF helicopters but they are primarily for surveillance and movement of paramilitary forces and state police and for casualty evacuation if required."

He said the government never intended to use Air Force in offensive combat operations against Naxalites.

Pillai said the government has decided to take action as "they (Naxals) are not willing to listen (to the plea to abjure violence) and we have to restore civil administration using state police and paramilitary forces."