The Centre today reiterated its commitment that the country will get rid of the Naxal menace in two to three years. Addressing a press conference at Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh, the Home Minister Mr.P. Chidambaram said, the battle against the Maoists is a long drawn out struggle and one cannot expect instant success.<br/><br/>Referring to yesterday's mindless violence which killed 76 CRPF personnel, he said, the country is paying price for the neglect of the Naxal problem in the past 10 to 12 years. In reply to a question, Mr. Chidambaram ruled out the use of the Army against the Maoists and said that the State Police assisted by Central forces are capable of carrying out counter insurgency operations. On aerial operations against the Naxalites, the Home Minister said, at present there is no mandate, but if necessary, the option will be revisited.<br/><br/>Referring to the success story of Andhra Pradesh in fighting Naxals, he said, other States are also trying to build capacities along with Central assistance. Mr. Chidambaram asserted that there is no operation ‘Green Hunt' against the Maoists and added that knee-jerk reactions should be avoided. On the lack of co-ordination between the State Police and Central forces, the Home Minister said, sufficient co-ordination is there and one has to wait for the report of the enquiry ordered into the incident. He said that the present operation is not an intelligence-based operation but for the domination of the area occupied by the ultras.<br/><br/>Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Mr. Raman Singh said that gradual success is being achieved in the operations against Naxals. He said, besides the Central forces, Naxal-affected States are also co-ordinating and pooling out resources to fight this menace.<br/><br/>Earlier, Mr. Chidambaram, State Governor Shekhar Dutta, Mr. Raman Singh and other leaders and officials paid their last respects to the 76 CRPF personnel killed in the deadliest Naxal attack in jungles of Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased jawans are being dispatched to their respective home states. The deceased CRPF jawans belonged to states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, and Rajasthan.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, the Polit Bureau of CPIM today strongly condemned the massacre of 76 CRPF personnels by the Maoists in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh. In a press release the party said this brutal attack is a reminder that no state government can singly tackle the violence perpetrated by the Maoists. The Polit Bureau of the CPIM reiterates its resove to fight the Maoists politically and ideologically and asked the government to take effective administrative measures to curb their violent activities.