Naxal-hit states' top brass meets Chidambaram

Ahead of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's meeting with chief ministers of four Naxal-affected states next week, top bureaucrats of these states on Friday held a strategy session here on the roadmap for dealing with the menace.

While Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal were represented by their chief secretaries, Jharkhand was represented by its home secretary, officials sources said.

West Bengal Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen also attended the meeting held to discuss internal security, flood control, tribal development and disaster management.

Though there was no official briefing, the main agenda of the February 9 meeting -- strategies to tackle the Maoist menace in the region -- was believed to have been discussed.

The union home minister has called a meeting of chief ministers of the four states here on February 9 primarily to finalise strategies for tackling the Maoists in the region.

Sources said planning was almost finalised for taking on Maoists who have been recently "quite active" in these states.
However, it is still not known if all the chief ministers have confirmed their participation at the February 9 meet.