Government alert on terrorists' support to Maoists: Shinde

New Delhi, Sep 10 (IANS) Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde Monday said the government was "fully alert" about terror groups, such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), extending support to Maoists in Indian states.

At a press conference here, Shinde said the government also keenly watched to see if there were links between any foreign forces and Indian Maoists.

"We are very alert about foreign elements supporting Naxalites (Maoists) and other groups. We are alert not only to the threat posed by LeT but by any other such group," he said to a question on the issue.

He said the Maoists problems was also connected to social issues and hence the government was looking at development in the Maoist-affected areas of 13 states in the country that had been neglected for long.

He said youth of these states, particularly in the tribal belt, were looking at some kind of government help in their employment and other services.

"Just as in Jammu and Kashmir, we have to do it here also. And we are doing it. I have talked with the police officers concerned. Youth in tribal areas are unable to join the police forces due to inadequate educational qualification, which is rigid during recruitment.

"We are thinking of reducing the educational qualification and to provide the youth employment and inducting them in the police forces," he said.

Shinde also noted that that the government was considering creating a new, dedicated force for intelligence gathering across the country and in this regard, discussions were going on with several of the central and state police forces.

At the recent conference of directors general of police here, Intelligence Bureau chief Nehchal Sandhu had pointed out that the intelligence gathering was the weakest link in policing in the country and the cadre strength was abysmally low.

To another question on Maoists, Shinde said the government was ready to talk to them if they shunned violence.