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The Print
16 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
A ‘ruthless approach' is fine for terrorists. For Maoists, it must be tempered with empathy
It was a deadly blow. Basavaraju was an aggressive military commander who led some of the most audacious and daring campaigns. Earlier, in Operation Black Forest on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border during April and May, 31 Maoists were liquidated. More recently, Gautam alias Sudhakar , a central committee member, was killed in Bijapur district on 5 June. The security forces are delivering one punch after another in quick succession. The knock-out should only be a question of time. Last month, on 21 May, the CPI (Maoist) lost its top leader, Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju , in an encounter in the Abujhmad area of Narayanpur district, Chhattisgarh. Basavaraju, who had succeeded Ganapathy as general secretary in 2018, was killed along with 26 other Maoists in the engagement. The Maoist movement in India, which was at one stage described as the gravest threat to the country's internal security, is today gasping for breath. Home Minister Amit Shah plans to bury it by March 2026, and the security forces are going hammer and tongs to achieve the target. However, though the Maoist movement may be vanquished, Naxalism may not be stamped out. Also Read: Maoism became irrelevant to India's working class much before Basavaraju's death No second chance Incidents of violence by left-wing extremism have fallen sharply from 1,936 in 2010 to 374 in 2024, a dip of 81 per cent, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The total number of deaths, including civilians and security forces, has come down from 1,005 in 2010 to 150 in 2024—down by 85 per cent. The total number of districts affected by Maoist violence has shrunk from 223 in 2010 to just 38 presently. The success of the security forces' operations is to be attributed to a combination of factors: aggressive campaigns that included establishing forward operating bases in areas so far dominated by the Maoists; development marked by constructing roads, erecting mobile towers, and opening post office and bank branches; choking the supply of funds to the Maoists; and tech-driven intelligence operations using drones and satellites. Other contributing factors include raising forces like the District Reserve Guard (DRG), comprising mostly surrendered Maoists, and the Bastar Fighters, which recruited villagers from remote areas; a generous surrender and rehabilitation policy; and better inter-state and Centre-state coordination. Expectedly, certain sections are critical of the government's aggressive operations. The former chief minister of Telangana, K Chandrashekar Rao, has accused the Centre of 'massacring youth and tribals', and said that 'just because you have power, you cannot go on a killing spree'. Revanth Reddy, the present CM of the state, also purportedly said that Adivasis are being murdered. The leaders of five Left parties—the CPI, CPI (M), CPI (ML)-Liberation, RSP and AIFB—recently wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, urging the government 'to put an immediate halt to the extra-judicial killings'. The Maoists, meanwhile, have been sending desperate peace feelers. A politburo member, Abhay aka Venugopal Rao, in a letter released on 2 April, said that the Maoists would cease fire and come for peace talks if the security forces stopped setting up camps and ceased their operations. Another letter, released on 17 April in the name of Rupesh, a CPI (Maoist) spokesman in Chhattisgarh, announced that the Maoists were agreeable to ceasefire for at least a month. Yet another letter from Rupesh on 25 April appealed to the central government to stop the operations for a month, after which the Maoists would hold peace talks in a favourable environment. The Chhattisgarh government has rejected the calls for truce and dialogue. At the Home Ministry level, the thinking appears to be that in the past, whenever peace talks were held, there was no productive outcome and the Maoists, in fact, utilised the peace period to augment their strength and propagate their ideology. It is not untrue. However, one has to remember that when talks were held in Hyderabad in 2004, the extremists were negotiating from a position of strength. Today, they are in dire straits and are facing an existential crisis. The choice before them is between life and death. That being so, it would have been magnanimous on the part of the government to declare a unilateral ceasefire, give one last chance to the Maoists to come overground, hold parleys with official representatives, and join the mainstream. Even if the gesture was only partially successful, it would still avoid a lot of bloodshed. The remnants could always be taken care of by the security forces. Such an approach would have been appreciated by the people in general, and not many tears would then be shed for the intransigent hard core. A need for strategic empathy A disturbing feature of government policy is its 'ruthless approach' to the Maoist insurgency. It is fine to talk of a ruthless approach when you are dealing with terrorists. However, when you are dealing with your own people, strictness must be tempered with empathy. The majority of Maoist foot soldiers are simple tribals who joined the movement, rightly or wrongly, because they had a grievance—real or perceived. Maybe their land was taken away, maybe they were harassed by the forest officer, maybe the police were harsh with them. Marxism-Leninism meant nothing to them. Such persons deserve a chance, and it could have been given to them. Government thinking is rather simplistic: kill the Maoists and the Maoist problem will be solved. Another disconcerting feature is the fixing of a target date to finish the Maoist movement. The objective is laudable, but its achievement could have serious implications. It is fine when you fix a target date for completing a development project like building a highway, raising a dam, or setting up a factory. However, when you are dealing with an insurgency, fixing a target date may lead to some kind of competition among the police forces as to who kills more insurgents and, in the process, some elements may employ extra-judicial methods. Fortunately, there has been no serious complaint so far except general allegations, but the possibility can never be ruled out. It would have been better if the forces were asked to go all out against the insurgents and then wait for the liquidation of the Maoist movement in the normal course. There is yet another danger. The Maoists, just to demonstrate that they are still a force to reckon with, may, in sheer desperation, commit needless acts of violence. On 8 May, the Maoists killed three junior commandos of Greyhounds, an elite anti-Naxal force of Telangana, in a landmine explosion in Mulugu district near the Chhattisgarh border. In another incident, on 9 June, an Additional SP, Akash Rao, was killed and two others were injured in an IED blast in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. The government will nevertheless, in all likelihood, be able to defeat the Maoist insurgency. The strength of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army has reportedly been reduced to a meagre 300. Most of the politburo and central committee members have either been arrested or killed; the former has only four members left and the strength of the latter has shrunk to a mere 14. There was always a basic flaw in giving a Maoist orientation to the extremist movement, rather than drawing from the country's own civilisational ethos. A movement that declared, 'China's chairman is our chairman, China's path is our path', was doomed to fail in the long run.' Also Read: Born out of 'desperation', DRG is first line against Maoists in Bastar. Tech is giving them an edge Embers will remain Will the government be able to write the obituary of left-wing extremism in the country? Its record in reducing extreme poverty has been commendable. World Bank data shows it declined from 27.1 per cent in 2011-12 to 5.3 per cent in 2022-23, implying that the number of people living in extreme poverty fell from 344.47 million to 75.24 million. Unequal distribution of wealth, however, continues to be a problem. The World Inequality Database shows income inequality rising from a Gini coefficient of 52 in 2004 to 62 in 2023 (a higher Gini coefficient indicates greater inequality, while a lower value suggests a more equal distribution). It is also significant that, as areas affected by Maoist violence are being cleared by the security forces, industries are moving in to exploit the virgin forests. In Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, for example, the government has given environmental clearance to Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd. to more than double iron ore output at its Surjagarh mine. Deforestation, which results in the displacement of tribals and contributes to their alienation, continues unabated. India lost 17,700 hectares of primary forest in 2023 and another 18,200 hectares in 2024. There is a genuine apprehension that Mao-vadis may gradually be replaced by MOU-vadis. It would seem that while the security forces are doing the job assigned to them, there is no corresponding attempt to address some of the pressing socio-economic issues that contributed to the emergence and countrywide spread of the Naxal problem. That being so, it seems that while the fire would be extinguished, the embers would remain. The CPI (Maoist) politburo may be decimated, its central committee may be disintegrated, the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army may be vanquished, the party cadres may all be killed, but the idea of Naxalbari would, in all probability, survive—to the extent it represented a protest of the poorer, deprived, and marginalised sections of society against political insensitivity, social discrimination, and economic exploitation. The writer, a former Police Chief, is author of The Naxalite Movement in India. Views are personal. (Edited by Asavari Singh)
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Naxal couple surrenders before security forces in Chhattisgarh
Raipur, Two senior Maoist cadres, including an education unit commander and a press team member, surrendered before security forces in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, officials said. Jeevan Tulavi, 45, and his wife Agasha, 35, were active in the Maoist ranks for more than 20 years. They surrendered in the Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district, about 180 km from the state capital Raipur. Tulavi alias Ram Tulavi was the divisional committee member and was working as education team commander in Maad division , while Agasha alias Aarti Korram was an area committee member of the outlawed CPI and was working in the press team in the same division and used to draft press releases, a senior officer said. The state police had placed a ₹8 lakh reward for catching Tulavi, he said. The couple surrendered before Rajnandgaon range Inspector General of Police Abhishek Shandilya, Superintendent of Police Y P Singh, and Commandant of the 27th Indo-Tibetan Border Police force Vivek Kumar Pandey. The security forces called the surrender a "major" success, given that the two Maoists were part of the ideological setup of the Naxalites, who worked to motivate the cadres and recruit fresh blood into the fold. Tulavi joined the ranks of the Left Wing Extremists in 2008 and worked in the military team of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army in south Rajnandgaon. After 2012-13, he changed track and got engaged as an LWE ideology teacher in the mobile political school of the Maad division, according to security officials. The man hails from the Parvidih village in this district and has been working as the Maad division education unit commander and has extensively travelled in all the villages in Abujhmad to train and educate the political ideology of the Maoists through mobile academic school , they said. Agasha is a resident of Telitola village in this district and has been working in the press team of the Maad division and as a commander of the Chetna Natya Mandali . She has been a singer, dancer, poet, orator and a song composer since 2000 and was operating computers and drafting press releases for the LWEs, the officials said. The district shares its border with Kanker and Gadchiroli in Maharashtra, and the forces are undertaking operations here as part of the Union government's declaration to end Maoism from the country by March 2026.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
NIA to probe loot of explosives by Maoists from J'khand-Odisha border
Bhubaneswar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is all set to take over from Odisha police the investigation into the loot of 5000kg industrial explosives by Maoists from a stone quarry in Sundargarh district, bordering Jharkhand on May 27. Rourkela police have arrested Maoist informer George Munda (43), a local, for allegedly collaborating with Maoists from Jharkhand in the theft of 5,000 kg of gelatin sticks. Around 3,800 kg of explosives have been recovered. "Considering the gravity of the offence, NIA has obtained an order from a designated court in Bhubaneswar to suo motu take over the probe from the state police. They will officially take over the case files in a day or two. NIA was assisting police in the investigation. An NIA team had visited the crime scene at the stone quarry in Banko on May 28," a senior police officer told TOI. NIA plans to interrogate Munda in their custody to establish 'forward and backward' linkages related to the offence having multi-state ramification. Munda had several meetings with Maoist leader Anmol, alias Lalchand Hembram, before the theft. His arrest raised concerns for security agencies, as Sundargarh had been declared Maoist-free by the Centre in April 2024. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo The police officer added, "Given the Centre's target to wipe out Maoism from the country by March 2026, NIA's involvement in the case is essential to unravel a potential bigger anti-national crime plan of the rebels." It is the first case undertaken by NIA's Odisha branch following the establishment of its police station in Bhubaneswar last month, police said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Ex-PLGA Head Helps Commandos Navigate IEDs, Storm Abujmarh
1 2 3 Nagpur: In the booby-trapped hills of Abujmarh, once the impregnable stronghold of Maoists, a new dynamic is reshaping the battle against the guerrillas. Giridhar, a former commander of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Company No. 10 has emerged as a pivotal figure in the security forces' mission to dismantle the Maoist fortress, said an official source. Giridhar, who surrendered before CM Devendra Fadnavis along with his wife last year, has transitioned to a key asset with his intimate knowledge of Maoist camps, routes, exit points, hiding places, and locations of deadly booby traps and spike holes in Abujmarh and its adjoining areas. His inputs have been instrumental in fine-tuning ground-level commando operations in treacherous terrain, said top sources. "After leading the PLGA for three decades, Giridhar's contributions have been critical in Gadchiroli and neighbouring Chhattisgarh, where the fight against Maoism has intensified," an official said. Their strategic deployment in operations has helped leverage their expertise in guerrilla warfare. Beyond providing tactical intelligence, these ex-Maoists play a crucial role in identifying the bodies of neutralised Maoists after encounters, as most Maoist cadres lack recent photographs or verifiable records. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Giridhar, in particular, has been summoned multiple times to Chhattisgarh to assist in this task. This week, Giridhar participated in a police-organised blood donation camp in Gadchiroli, joining 330 other such donors. Sources indicate he has shared critical details on Maoist strategies, military techniques, arms training, and artillery information with Gadchiroli police. This intelligence significantly enhanced effectiveness of operations at ground zero, allowing security forces to anticipate and counter Maoist tactics. Giridhar's insights also helped in planning operations that minimise risks to personnel, a key factor in a region where ambushes & IEDs remain constant threats. Giridhar's personal journey is equally noteworthy. After Giridhar's surrender, his marriage was solemnised in the presence of chief minister Fadnavis, symbolising a new chapter in his life last week. His transformation from a Maoist commander to a state collaborator reflects the broader success of rehabilitation programmes for surrendered cadres. Over the past two years, approximately 60 Maoists surrendered before Gadchiroli police under SP Neelotpal. While senior officials remain tight-lipped about the specifics of how former Maoists are utilised, sources confirm that their clandestine involvement has saved commandos in Abujmarh's unforgiving terrain. Chhattisgarh, too, recognised the value of former Maoists, inducting some of them into its security forces.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
'Bloodshed Of Indians Will Invite Punishment': Amit Shah On Operation Sindoor
Lucknow: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that through the anti-terror Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent a strong message across the world that the bloodshed of Indians will invite punishment. Speaking after handing over appointment letters to 60,244 Uttar Pradesh Police constables, including 12,048 women, HM Shah said, "I congratulate our armed forces for precision strikes that demolished the terror hubs." He also compared PM Modi's strong response to terror strikes with the Congress era, which witnessed frequent attacks but no response. Hailing the current era of 'Sashakt Bharat', HM Shah highlighted the strides made by the nation in reducing poverty, space technology, education, aviation, opportunities for the youth, computer-based skilling and urban mobility through Metro networks. HM Shah said that under PM Modi, even internal security in the country has improved. "Earlier, 11 districts were affected by Maoism, but today Left Wing Extremism is present only in three districts," he said. "Mark my words, Maoism will be eradicated from the country by March 21, 2026," he said. Highlighting the economy's growth under PM Modi, HM Shah said, "By 2027, the country will become the third largest economy. When PM Modi took charge, our economy was the 11 largest." HM Shah also highlighted PM Modi's vision for impartial social upliftment and said in the last 11 years, 25 crore people have emerged from poverty, crores of people have got cooking gas cylinders, free ration, free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh, and farmers have started getting Rs 6,000 every year. Targeting the previous Samajwadi Party-led government in the state, the Home Minister said that before 2017, the law and order situation in UP was deteriorating steadily, but under the BJP government led by Yogi Adityanath, the state police has returned to the track of improvement and revival. Today, under CM Adityanath, goons don't call the shots and criminals don't enjoy any VIP treatment, he said, referring to the alleged lawlessness in the state under the previous Samajwadi Party government. Pointing to the hurdles created by the SP government in police reforms, he said, "During the first three years of PM Modi's government, the state police did not benefit from efforts for improvement." HM Shah also hit out at the SP government for corruption in recruitment, saying the current hiring of 60,244 constables in UP Police has been done without any 'Kharchi-Parchi' and only on the basis of merit. "Earlier, recruitments used to take place on a caste basis, but not anymore. The current hiring has been done transparently," he said, expressing satisfaction over the appointment of 12,048 women as constables.
