The Andhra Pradesh government is contemplating re-imposing the ban on Communist Party of India-Maoist even as Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh [Images] assured all help to the state in tackling the Naxalite menace.

Following the killing of Congress legislator Chittem Narsi Reddy and eight others by the Maoists in Mahbubnagar district on the Independence Day, the prime minister spoke to Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy on telephone and assured that the Centre would extend all the support that the state government required in containing the Naxalite activities.

"There is no place for violence in democracy and the state government should take all possible measures to ensure that law and order is maintained effectively," Dr Singh told the CM. He expressed deep anguish and sorrow over the ghastly killing of legislator Narsi Reddy and eight others in Mahbubnagar district.

The prime minister observed that effective implementation of the host of welfare and development programmes taken up by the state government would not be possible unless the extremist activity was checked and law and order was maintained.

United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi [Images] and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil also spoke to the CM and condemned the dastardly act of the ultras.