Maoists seeking ties with northeast insurgents: Chidambaram

Maoist guerrillas were forging ties with insurgents in the northeast to increase their sphere of influence, Home Minister P Chidambaram said on Monday while underlining that Maoist violence in the country was on the rise.

"In a bid to expand its influence it (Communist Party of India-Maoist) has been seeking alliance with secessionists and northeast insurgents... it is also lending support to their secessionist demands," Chidambaram said in his opening remarks at the conference of state police chiefs here.

Besides a marked increase in the violence spurred by Maoists, the greater sophistication in the attacks to inflict greater damage was also of concern.

"(The) Communist Party of India-Maoist besides targeting police, police informers and inimical forces is laying greater emphasis on targeting infrastructure like roads, bridges," Chidambaram said.

The home minister spelt out the priority areas in the next five years - a modern police act, mega city policing, upgradation of forensic science laboratory and prison reforms.