Former IPS officers term NHRC act on aerial attack as 'illegitimate'

Bhubaneswar:(visakeo)- Former IPS officer having knowledge on counter-insurgency operations, on Thursday termed the restriction imposed by the National Human Rights Commission on aerial strike on the outlawed leftwing guerrillas by the security forces as 'illegitimate' and  'discouraging'. Former Assam cadre Oriya IPS officer Ashok Sahu, argued  that aerial attack was the need of the hour as the rebels' are being hiding in dense forest after spreading mayhem in Nayagarh. "I think, the Commission has no legitimate right to intervene into the combing operations being carried out by the Orissa Government," he said. He further added that the Commission should also take the case of killed police men in Nayagarh mayhem. He further said that the fleeing Maoists' may be heading towards either Andhra Pradesh or Chhattisgarh in the wake of massive crack down. Sahu further added that security forces should search in nearby villages and peripheral areas. "Immediate use of aerial bombing by helicopters on Maoists escaping through the jungles after the Nayagarh attack could have led to a death blow on the extremists," he added. He further alleged that Churches in these five southern districts have been patronising the leftwing guerrillas and providing shelter for them.Criticising Union Home Ministry, Sahu demanded special assistance to Orissa on matters of security related expenditure.  He further said that the reports indicating Maoists presence in several forest areas of Kandhamal, has proved enough about the role of the Churches. The Centre's double policy of development and police action to deal with Maoists appears to be ineffective, as funds marked for developmental projects are being extorted by Maoists themselves, he added.