Soren assures help in anti-Maoist drive

NEW DELHI - Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren Thursday met Home Minister P. Chidambaram and said his government would extend all help to central paramilitary forces for their anti-Maoist drive.

We welcome the drive launched by the centre and will cooperate with the forces, said Soren after his meeting with the home minister in North Block here.

Soren was accompanied by his two deputies Raghubar Das and Sudesh Mahto.

When Soren was sworn in as chief minister of Jharkhand for the third time, he had remarked that the proposed offensive against Maoists, which has been named Operation Green Hunt, would not be launched without the state government’s nod.

Home ministry officials said the meeting was also meant to review operational and deployment details of security forces.

Maoist rebels triggered a landmine in the state’s Gumla district earlier this month that claimed the lives of eight people, including seven policemen. The rebels blew up a truck in which the police personnel were travelling.

Soon after the incident Chidambaram said he wanted the new government to quickly settle down and give clear directions to the state police and the administration to resolutely face the Maoist challenge.