CPI- Maoist declared Terrorist Organization by Centre

Hours after the Left said that it will not ban Maoists in West Bengal, the Union Home Ministry has declared the CPI-Maoist a terrorist organization. Reacting to the ban on the Maoists, CPM general secretary Prakash Karat has said that it will not help any purpose. "If we ban Maoists, they will regroup under another name," said Karat. Karat also said that the Left believes that the Trinamool used Maoists in Lalgarh.

Home Minister P Chidambaram has issued an alert specifically to Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal. The Centre on Monday banned the CPI-Maoist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, calling it a terrorist organization. Home Ministry sources said the decision was taken at a high-level meeting. CPI-Maoist, which is the main Naxal group in the country, has been bracketed with 34 other organisations including LeT and SIMI who are in the list of banned outfits. The Maoists are currently banned in many states like Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.