Two American diplomats made the offer to the state government during a visit on Thursday, Chhattisgarh's Additional Chief Secretary (Home) BKS Ray said.
RAIPUR: The United States has offered to help Chhattisgarh remove thousands of mines planted by Maoist rebels and train its police force to battle the insurgents, a senior official said on Friday.
Chhattisgarh is the worst-affected among at least 13 Indian states battling armed Maoist rebels who say they are fighting for the rights of millions of impoverished peasants and landless labourers.
Two American diplomats made the offer to the state government during a visit on Thursday, Chhattisgarh's Additional Chief Secretary (Home) B.K.S Ray said.
"They offered assistance in demining and counter-insurgency training of police personnel and they also offered humanitarian relief to the camps for tribals," Ray said.
Tens of thousands of tribals have fled to relief camps in the state to join a state-sponsored campaign against the Maoists.
Human rights groups say many people are being coerced into joining the Salwa Judum (Campaign for Peace) and have condemned the state government for putting civilians in the firing line.
The US diplomats also visited a police jungle warfare school in Kanker town in southern Chhattisgarh. More than 150 people, including policemen and dozens of members of the Salwa Judum, have been killed in Chhattisgarh since the start of this year. Most of them were killed in landmine blasts.
The US offer to help Chhattisgarh is the first known foreign proposal of aid in India's fight against Maoist rebels.
"We welcome any one who supports us in the fight against terrorism," Ray said. The US embassy in New Delhi downplayed the offer, saying Washington is coordinating with India, an increasingly close friend, in law enforcement and counter-terrorism.
Embassy spokesman David Kennedy said the United States was dealing with federal agencies and he did not have the specifics of the Chhattisgarh trip by American officials.
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