The Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony ruled out the deployment of Army in combating Maoist violence. He however added that the Army would not shy away in containing the menace and were already providing logistical support and training to police forces of Maoist-affected states1. In another development, as many as three soldiers were killed in a fierce gun battle between Maoist extremists and security personnel in Jharkhand’s Giridih district on February 92.

Bihar Times reported that the Jharkhand Liberation Tigers (JLT) has ordered villagers not to sell or consume Hadia, a local brew and also directed the schoolteachers to attend to their duties in the schools3.

• 1. “Govt rules out Army deployment in naxal areas,” The Indian Express, February 4, 2008, at http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Govt-rules-out-Army-deployment-i...
• 2. “Three cops killed by Maoist extremists,” The Indian Express, February 10, 2008, at http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/271163.html
• 3. “Jharkhand Liberation Tigers bans liquor in villages,” South Asia Terrorism Portal, February 5, 2008, at http://satp.org/satporgtp/detailed_news.asp?date1=2/5/2008#3