The former Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs Mahendra Kumawat has said that the Maoists have links with the outfits like NSCN Muiviah and Khaplang group, LeT, ULFA and other such groups. Taking part in a round table discussion on meeting the Maoist challenge in New Delhi today, Mr. Kumawat said that the Maoists have spread their tentacles in 223 districts in 20 States of the country and their aim is to seize political power by expanding guerilla war- fare to new areas. They are also using the towns and cities as safe havens. He said that they have been destroying infrastructure including roads, bridges and schools and other places. While admitting lack of development in the Naxal dominated areas, Mr. Kumawat said that there is both development and security deficit, apart from the trust deficit that was referred to by the Home Minister. He also said that in most of these areas, no one is coming forward to take up road construction and other projects. Mr. Mohan Guruswamy, academician, suggested functional autonomy for tribal areas and the setting up of Adiwasi Police. Almost every speaker felt that the tribal people have not benefited from the development and they were being exploited. <br/>