Maoists not getting external support, says minister

NEW DELHI - The government Tuesday rejected the suggestion that Maoist guerrillas were getting foreign financial or military support.

There are no inputs to indicate that Left-wing extremist groups are getting assistance in terms of weapons and finance from foreign countries, Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

He said there were no inputs to indicate that Maoist groups have established nexus with terrorist and separatist outfits abroad.

However, Communist Party of India-Maoist maintains links with certain like-minded parties of some neighbouring countries, he said.

In a written reply to another question, the minister said: There are inputs to suggest that such groups, particularly CPI-Maoist, extort considerable ‘levy’ from various mining mafia groups in the Naxal-affected states in the mineral rich central and east India.”