The Cabinet Committee on Security is meeting this evening to take stock of the situation in the aftermath of Naxal attack in Chattisgarh. The meeting assumes importance as the Home Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram pleaded for a larger mandate for his ministry in dealing with the growing Naxal menace in the country. Supporting Mr. Chidambaram's argument Finance Minister Mr. Pranab Mukherjee has said that the government is ready to empower the Home Ministry to use air support for police action against Naxalites. He, however, made it clear that adequate safeguards have to be in place against any misuse of such powers. Earlier, Mr. Chidambaram offered to hold fresh talks with the Naxals if they suspend violence for 72 hours. He urged BJP and other political parties to continue to maintain a bipartisan spirit and approach in dealing with this grave challenge facing the country.<br/> Mr. Chidambarm asserted that States have the primary responsibility to deal with the problem as they can undertake any step in this regard.<br/> In a related development, terming Naxals as the biggest terrorists, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today said, there cannot be a soft line to deal with Maoists. He however disfavoured use of air power to combat the menace. Attributing the recent spurt in the Naxal violence to frontal operations by the security forces in the state, Mr Singh favoured a long-term action joint action plan with the Centre to tackle the problem. Raman Singh, who is in Delhi is likely to meet senior union ministers including the Home Minister to discuss the issue. He said the ultras have killed more than 1000 civilians and more than 650 policemen besides blowing up 132 electric towers, 106 school buildings and three hospitals in the state. <br/><br/> The CPI today also opposed the idea of using air force to fight Maoists. Party General Secretary A B Bardhan said in Bhubaneswar that his party did not comprehend the idea of limited mandate being given to the Home Minister in dealing with the problem. <br/> Meanwhile, four CRPF jawans were killed by Naxals in a land mine blast in Lalgarh area of West Bengal. The incident happened on the second day of 48 hours bandh call given by Maoists in five Naxal affected states. The attack comes close on the heels of Dantewada landmine blast in Chhattisgarh, which killed 35 people, including 14 special police officers.<br/> Earlier, a land mine blast on a railway track near Jhargram in West Midnapur district injured two drivers of goods train and damaged its engine. The Maoists also shot dead a CPI(M) party worker, Ajit Mondol, at Basantpur village under Binpur police station area claiming that he was a police informer. AIR Kolkata correspondent reports that several trains have been diverted.<br/> In Orissa, Maoists blew up a Panchayat office building in Malkangiri district today. A large number of armed ultras stormed into Badigata village in Kalimela area early this morning and blew up the Panchayat building. AIR Bhubaneswar correspondent reports that the bandh affected vehicular traffic in the Naxal affected districts but had little impact on business and other activities in the urban areas. <br/> In Bihar, Maoists blew up a mobile tower at NanoBigha village under Atari police station. Two tractors and one dozen huts were torched by Maoists in Aurangabad district. AIR Patna correspondent reports that the rail traffic on Gaya-Mughalsaria rail section has been restored after 10 hours. <br/> The bandh also affected normal life in Naxal hit areas of Chhattisgarh. AIR correspondent reports no untoward incident has been reported from any part of the state.