Maoists get arms from outside: PC

CHIDAMBARAM

By V S Chandrasekar
New Delhi, Oct 24 (PTI) Maoists are acquiring weapons
through Bangladesh, Myanmar and possibly Nepal, according to
Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram, who nonetheless has
expressed government's willingness for a dialogue with them
provide they abjure violence.

Naxalism remains the biggest internal security threat to
India, he said and hit out at intellectuals who still try to
"romanticise" the naxalites.
In a wide-ranging interview to PTI on Saturday,
Chidambaram said the government is practical enough to
understand that the Naxals would not not lay down arms.
He said said the West Bengal government has "learnt a
lesson very late" after the Lalgarh operation but he would
not comment much on the West Bengal government's decision to
secure the release of an abducted police official by not
opposing the bail application of about 20 pro-Maoist trials.
"In terms of the threat to security from Indian sources
or internal sources, Naxalism remains the biggest threat.
There is, of course, the other threat which is cross border
terrorism but that is emanating from across the border," he
said.
"There is no evidence of any money flowing in from abroad
to the Maoists. But there is certainly evidence of weapons
being smuggled from abroad through Myanmar or Bangladesh which
reaches the Maoists."
Asked whether some weapons are coming through Nepal, he
said "it is possible". (More) PTI MKR
JVN


The information contained in this electronic message and any attachments to this
message are intended for the exclusive
use of the addressee(s) and may contain proprietary, confidential or privileged
information. If you are not the intended
recipient, you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. Please
notify the sender immediately and destroy
all copies of this message and any attachments contained in it.