Chhattisgarh Police and the Indian Air Force plan to carry out air strikes on Maoists in the state's Bastar district, reported the Indian Express. Until now, authorities had been reluctant to use air strikes against "their own people", said an official, but a growing number of Maoist attacks on IAF helicopters seems to have prompted a change in strategy. Additional Director General of Police for anti-Naxal operations RK Vij said the Air Force had practiced firing from helicopters and is now prepared to use this tactic in Bastar. He added, "We have lost personnel and people, but we have never retaliated. We are not sitting ducks. We can also attack them. It will help us handle the situation better."