Maoist violence must be tackled with dialogue, says Archbishop

The Maoist issue in West Bengal can be solved only through genuine dialogue, expressed the Archbishop of Calcutta Thomas D'Souza.

A dialogue in a spirit of reconciliation and humanitarian assistance in the affected areas can help resolve the issue, he told reporters this week.

"Our solution to the (Maoist) problem is one of prayer, reconciliation and service," Archbishop D'Souza said when asked whether the Church had any solution to the Maoist issue.

The Archbishop opined that the Church's work in education and healthcare can help bring about reconciliation and can pave the way for a dialogue.

"Our missions in West Midnapore, mainly those of the Missionaries of Charity, are working well in the Maoist areas and were quite reconciled with the people there," he was quoted by the PTI as saying.

He however added that the Church has not been able to reach out to the Maoist squads active in the deep jungles of the three districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia.

Last year, dreaded Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji was killed by the paramilitary forces in Jangamahal of West Bengal.

Number three in the party, 55-year old Kishenji was a military strategist and had played a vital role in forming the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004.

Kishenji's death came amidst full-fledged anti-Naxal operations by the West Bengal government.

In 2011, Naxals carried out 1,476 attacks targeting various government and private installations, killing 389 civilians and 124 security force personnel.

According to the Home Ministry data, out of the total of 513 deaths, the highest of 182 were in Chhattisgarh, followed by 137 in Jharkhand, 50 in Maharashtra, 49 each in Bihar and Orissa, and 40 in West Bengal.

The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, has described the Maoist uprising as "the biggest internal security challenge ever faced by our country".