A senior police officer said, "We want the least bloodshed since the tribals are using human shields. We will use lathis, teargas and rubber bullets for dispersing mobs."

"The Maoists are keeping women and children in front, while they position themselves at the rear of the human shields," he said.

"Our primary target is to cut off the Maoists from the people," he said.

Sources said the Naxals, who are now using women and children as human shields to prevent state and central forces from entering the villages, are also heavily armed.