NEW DELHI: The naxalite movement is now characterised by superior army style operations, better coordination and trained cadres, attacks on large targets through large-scale frontal assaults and possible external links.

Hence, the affected States must set up unified commands and undertake joint operations to fight the menace, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Thursday.

He was addressing the second meeting of the Standing Committee of the Chief Ministers of the affected States.

Police action should be backed by liberal surrender and rehabilitation policies, which could be modified by the Chief Ministers to make them more attractive, he said.

While stressing the need to fight naxalism politically, he urged the States to show the will to tackle the problem.

He called for improved use of intelligence on the strength, weapons, membership, locations and links of naxal groups.

Quoting naxal ideologue Charu Mazumdar, Dr. Singh pointed out that he had once talked of a "Spring Thunder over India."

Almost 40 years later, the movement may have lost much of its intellectual attraction but it has gained in strength by spreading to over 160 districts, he said.

Dr. Singh had over two-hour long interaction with the Chief Ministers.

"The naxalite movement is generating some notions of empowerment to these classes [deprived and alienated sections of the population] through use of violence and weapons.

They are trying to establish `liberation zones' in core areas where they are dispensing basic state functions of administration, policing and justice. It is a cause for concern that civil administration and police are periodically absent in some of these areas."

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