The Cabinet Committee on Security approved a new plan to counter Maoists even as the Defence Ministry said it is studying an IAF proposal to open fire at Naxals in self-defence.<br/><br/>Accoding to a top government official, the CCS meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in Delhi reviewed the situation and debated ways to deal with the problem and gave the clearance to the plan. The approval came after Union Home Minister P Chidambaram warned the Maoists to "abjure" violence or face action.<br/><br/>According to the plan, once an area is cleared of the Maoists, developmental activities will be carried out in full swing so that the Maoists cannot return.<br/><br/>Air Force and BSF helicopters will be used for reinforcements and evacuation of casualties only but not for any offensive.<br/><br/>The operations will be carried out in 20 states affected by the Maoist menace and they will also share intelligence. The police will have the mandate to cross inter-state borders in the hunt for the naxals.<br/><br/>Defence Minister A K Antony, in the meantime, told reporters on the sidelines of an Air Force Day event in the capital that the Ministry was still studying the IAF request to permit it to open fire on Maoists in self-defence, if required. <br/>He also clarified that the IAF proposal, made a week ago, is still pending with the defence Ministry and that it has not yet been put up before the CCS.<br/>Earlier in the day, IAF Chief P V Naik said the Air Force will deploy its Special Forces Commandos on the choppers operating in naxal-affected areas to man the guns to be mounted on the helicopters.<br/><br/>He also said the IAF Commandos will not do "Rambo-style" operations and that they will only be protecting the IAF assets, men and women deployed in Maoists-hit areas. <br/><br/>Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last month described Maoist extremism as the gravest internal security threat and called for a nuanced strategy to tackle naxal violence which, despite best efforts of the security forces, continues in many parts of the country. <br/><br/>Home Minister P Chidambaram has said the Maoists have their influence in 20 states across the country.