New Delhi, Feb 8: Newly appointed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Vikram Srivastav has said that the challenge posed by Naxals to developmental activities of the country can be defeated and things are likely to improve very soon.

Srivastav, during his interaction with media on Monday in the national capital, said: "Naxalism which challenged the development activities, is more challenging than terror groups."

However, he asserted confidence that such a challenge could very well be defeated.

"We are capable to win this challenge under the able leadership of Home Minister P Chidambaram," he added.

He also expressed confidence that things will improve very soon, but refused to share operational details.

The CRPF, country's largest counter insurgency force, is involved actively in assisting the State police in all the Naxal affected areas. It has deployed over 20,000 personnel for anti Maoist operations at different parts of the country.

On Sunday, Maoists blew up a portion of railway tracks causing derailment of a goods train and disruption of train services on the Howrah-Mumbai route in Jharkhand.

The 72-hour shutdown call given by Maoists has paralysed normal life in Jharkhand.

The shut down has been observed ahead of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's meeting to review the anti Maoists operation in Kolkata.

During the Chief Ministers' conference on internal security Chidambaram expressed displeasure over Maoists rejection of government's offer for talks. (ANI)