NSA rules out attack by Maoists

 
Narayanan told a TV news channel that the Maoists did not have the capacity to bring down a helicopter.  He made the remarks in the wake of speculations that was triggered by the fact that the Maoists had a strong presence in the area where the chopper was believed to have gone missing.

The NSA said the Government had put all the resources in place to trace the missing chopper. “We are hoping for the best,” he said.

Narayanan said the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) had sent a low flying aircraft, which got some photographs of the forested area over which the chopper was believed to be flying before going off radar.

“The most worrying aspect of the whole situation is the loss of radar contact with the helicopter for such a long time,” Narayanan said.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed that there would be a miraculous escape (for Reddy and others on board the chopper),” he said. “It is going to be a tough night and I hope our faith in god will bring him back.”