It took the government five years to change its perception of the Maoists - from 'our spoiled brothers and sisters' to 'fullblown terrorists'. Stung by a series of recent abductions, including that of two Italians, Orissa MLA Jhina Hikaka and Chhattisgarh's Sukma district collector Alex Paul Menon, the Union home ministry has officially declared that the Maoists have turned into fullblown terrorists.