Coimbatore, Oct 3 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said on Saturday the Centre would provide support to all states in eliminating the Maoist threat.

Addressing a function here, Chidambaram condemned the massacre of 16 people including five children by the Maoists in Amausi village in Bihar’s Khagaria District on Thursday.

He also said that over the past few years, states of Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand have become industrially backward due to Maoist violence.

“We (the Government) strongly condemn the killings of 16 villagers by Naxalites in Khagaria village of Bihar. They should realize that violence is not a solution to any problem. States such a Bihar and Jharkhand remain backward because of Naxalism. West Bengal which was flourishing industrially has been pushed back due to Naxalites,” Chidambaram said.

“We will put an end to Naxalism in these states. These states are however prepared to eliminate Naxalism and the police forces were capable of doing so. The Centre will do everything possible to do away with Naxalism which obstructs development,” he added.

According to Home Ministry statistics, Naxalite strikes on economic establishments have progressively grown in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal. While 71 Naxalite attacks were reported in 2006, the numbers swelled to 109 in 2008. In last ten months the country has witnessed 56 Naxal attacks.

On Friday, the Home Ministry gave a green signal to State Governments to rope in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for joint operations against the Maoists. (ANI)