By SUNIL Sonkar

New Delhi, April 06 — There will be no air power used against the Naxalites said the government on Tuesday admitting the killing of 75 security personnel in Chhattisgarh earlier today was due to some element of failure in the operations.

Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai in a brief statement today said that there were some element of failure in the operation.

He said, “Preliminary reports indicate that the CPI (Maoists) had planted pressure bombs in surrounding areas where the security forces might take cover. As a result of this bulk of the casualties have taken place.”

Pillai added no security personnel has been captured by the Maoists.

Pillai also elaborated the strategy of government to take on the Naxals. He told to the reporters, “I don’t think we need to use air power at the moment (in the anti-naxal operation). We can manage with what we have. Our strategy is unfolding and we should be able to manage without air power.”

Home Secretary, however, also said that air power will only be used for evacuation of the Naxals from the area and for mobility of the troops.

He called the Maoists as “murderers”.