Naxals: Home secretary calls meet to decide action

The next course of action against the Naxalites, who blew up a rail track in West Bengal that resulted in a collision between a passenger train and a good train, would be taken shortly following a high-level meeting, Union Home Secretary G K Pillai told rediff.com.

He said that the government would not take the latest attack lying down. Pillai, however, refused to comment on whether the government proposes using the army or the air force against the Naxals but added that nest course of action would be decide in a few days.

On the West Bengal incident, Pillai said that all angles point to derailment of the trains as a result of sabotage. "It is an attack by the Naxals and they are responsible for the civilian casualties. Investigators have found clues to suggest sabotage and they are probing further," he said.

The home secretary said, "They (Naxals) are getting more aggressive each day and have also shown scant regard for the lives of the innocent people. We will take steps to counter their moves, but will not let this menace grow."

Pillai said the confirmed death toll in West Bengal is 54 while the number of persons injured is 137.