Naxalism/ Maoism: India
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Certain districts in Naxal-affected areas are "liberated zones", according to union minister Jairam Ramesh | Certain districts in Naxal-affected areas are "liberated zones", according to union minister Jairam Ramesh | ||
Revision as of 02:28, 3 January 2018
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content.
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Sources
i) Left Wing Extremism in India
By P V Ramana
Observer Research Foundation18 December 2003
"Left-wing Extremism in India", is a chapter in Dipankar Sengupta (ed), Terrorism in South Asia , New Delhi: Author's Press, 2004.
ii) The A to Z of Naxal fight: All about the movement, its goal and its leaders
ET Bureau Jun 5, 2013
iii) Jharkhand records highest Naxal violence this year
Bharti Jain, TNN Apr 20, 2013
iv) Left-wing extremism has killed 14,869 people since 1980
Bharti Jain, TNN Oct 22, 2013
History
Xinhai Revolution
Also known as the Revolution of 1911, or the Chinese Revolution, that overthrew China's last imperial dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, and established the Republic of China.
Mao Tse Tung
Established the Chinese People's Republic. Maoism, formally known as Mao Zedong Thought, is a political theory derived from his teachings. Maoism sees the agrarian peasantry, rather than the working class, as the key revolutionary force which can fundamentally transform capitalist society towards socialism
Telangana Struggle
By July 1948, 2,500 villages in the south were organised into 'communes' as part of a peasant movement. Simultaneously the famous Andhra Thesis for the first time demanded that 'Indian revolution' follow the Chinese path of protracted people's war.
Andhra Pradesh
Violent Left wing extremism began in Naxalbari, Bengal, but the modern-day Maoist agitation finds its roots in AP, once the epicentre of the movement - at its peak 23 out of the 26 districts were Maoist-affected. Even today, a bulk of its top leaders is from the state. However, Maoist violence has ebbed
Fifth and Ninth
Schedules of the Constitution provide for a limited form of autonomy to tribals with regard to exploiting natural resources on their lands. But this did not happen in practice
Void Created
by the failure of government in tribal areas was exploited by the Maoists initially
Dandakaranya
The 'jungle of punishment' of Ramayana lore is where Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra meet up. The forest is the epicenter of the Maoist movement Dantewada Ambush: On April 6,2010, Maoists killed 76 CRPF men
Bastar
Once India's biggest district, it was later divided into Bastar, Dandewata and Kanker. Today, the greater Bastar region, with about 70% ST population, is a hotbed of Maoists. Bhumkal Rebellion: The tribal uprising against the British in 1910 still inspires the Maoists
Ideology
The objective of the Naxalites is to wage an armed revolution, modeled on the lines of the Chinese Revolution, which they call New Democratic Revolution (NDR), and usher in their own form of government
Historic Eight
monographs authored by Charu Majumdar that outline the ideological principles on which the Naxalite militant communist movement in India was based
Eka Nakshalwadya
Cha Janma, (The birth of a Naxal), a Marathi novel written by Vilas Balkrishna Manohar is a fictional account of a Madia Gond Juru's unwilling journey of life, his metamorphosis from an exploited nameless tribal to a Naxal.
May 1967
May 21 2017: The Times of India
Where is Naxalbari?
Located in north Bengal's Darjeeling district, Naxalbari is now a halfhour drive from Bagdogra airport and barely 10 km from the Nepal border
What happened in the summer of 1967?
The Communists were in active mobilization mode in these parts since the early 1960s. On May 25, 1967, 11 protesters were shot by the police as a reaction to the killing of a senior cop Sonam Wangdi the previous day. Eight were women; two were infants. The upsurge was put out by brute force. Jyoti Basu was Bengal's home minister then
Who were the leaders and cadres?
Charu Majumdar (right) was the theoretician. Kanu Sanyal was the key organizer. Jangal Santhal was another important organiser. Tribals and rajbonshis, members of a scheduled caste, formed its backbone
What were the long-term effects?
It compelled the state to carry out land reforms, including redistribution of land. The CPI (ML) was formed by this breakaway group in 1969, thereby splitting the Communist movement a second time after 1964. Shades of the movement survive in various CPI (ML) outfits and the Maoists
May 1967: II
`Politics opened the door to a new world for me', May 21, 2017: The Times of India
Hathigisha village, Naxalbari block: Women played an active role in the 1967 Naxalbari movement. Of the 11 demonstrators who died in the police firing on May 25, 1967, eight were women. Shanti Munda (Sarkar), now 74, is one of the few surviving women from those days of blood, sweat and fire.
“Much before Naxalbari happened, I used to go for political meetings and demonstrations. Even as a teenager, I gave speeches on the exploitation of bhag chasis (cultivators) by jotedars (rich peasants). I loved the freedom that politics gave me. Politics enabled me to step out of home and opened the door to a new world in those conservative times,“ says Munda, whose father was a farmer and Communist party member.
Even in 2017, Munda clearly remembers the Naxalbari struggle of May 1967. “My younger daughter had been born just 15 days ago but nothing could stop me from being part of the huge gathering on May 24. The movement had galvanized women from nearby areas too.Even old women who could not walk properly had re a ch e d t h e re.There was a party principle those days: if a cop enters a village, women must gherao him. Then someone in the crowd riddled inspector Sonam Wangdi with arrows and there was chaos,“ she says.
After her comrades were killed in police action the next day , she went underground for five years. `I worked for the party in Jalpaiguri district: organizing peasants, giving them a vision of what the country will be once revolution happens,“ says Munda, who despite her frail health, continues to be involved in radical Left politics. She also contested elections as a CPI (ML) candidate from Phansidewa constituency in 1982 and 1987 and lost on both occasions.
Munda is sad about the way the Communist movement failed to take off in India. “The Chinese Communist party was formed around the same time as ours.Now just compare the achievements of the two,“ she asks.
Looking back at 1967, she remains convinced that Naxalbari was the right path to follow. “But the movement suffered after dalals and thieves sneaked in,“ she says. Munda is convinced that land will be at the centre of future struggles. “Land is being forcibly taken away from people.There are no jobs. The fight for land will always continue,“ she says.
Leaders
Charu Majumdar
The founder of Naxalbari peasant uprising in 1967, who is up there in the ultra-left pantheon along with Lenin, Stalin & Mao. Died in a police lock-up, aged 54, in Kolkata in 1972 CCOMPOSA: The Co-ordination Ccommittee for all Maoist Groupings in South Asia, including Nepal's ruling party
Kondapalli Seetharamaiah
Joined CPI at a young age, he was active in the Telengana rebellion. He formed the People's War Group Kishenji: Mallojula Koteswara Rao, aka Kishenji, was considered the face of the Maoist movement in India. He was killed in Nov 2011 by security forces
Laxman Rao, Mupalla
aka Ganapathy
He was one of the early members of CPI (ML) PWG. Is now the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), formed after the merger of PWG and Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCCI) in 2004
People's Liberation Guerilla Army
It was founded in December 2000 as the People's Guerrilla Army by the PWG. Later, It changed its name to PLGA when CPI (Maoist) was formed in 2004
Women
form 40% of cadre, according to CPI (M) in 2010
Left-wing extremist Groups in India
There are more than 30 Left-wing extremist groups in operation in India. Some of them have consistently followed a violent agenda, rejecting parliamentary politics. Some others have been participating in the democratic processes with considerable success, while some maintain underground cadres, but also participate in parliamentary politics.
The most lethal extreme-left rebel outfit in India is the Communist Party of India--Marxist-Leninist People's War, in short People's War (PW). Prior to the merger between the People's War and the Bihar-based Party Unity (PU), the People's War was known as People's War Group (PWG) 3 . Another is the Maoist Communist Center (MCC). Both these groups follow a violent agenda and have rejected parliamentary politics.
The Communist Party of India--Marxist-Leninist Liberation, in short Liberation, is the most well-known over-ground Naxalite group that has successfully participated in parliamentary politics. The Communist Party of India--Marxist-Leninist Janasakthi, in short Janasakthi, is another Naxalite outfit. It maintains under ground cadres, as well as participates in democratic processes. There are a host of other Naxalite groups in India that are less prominent 4 .
‘Top Maoist leaders are millionaires’: Intelligence report
HIGHLIGHTS
Children of top Maoists Sandeep Yadav and Pradyuman Sharma study in prestigious colleges, own sports bikes and travel by air.
Sandeep is wanted in 88 cases and carries a reward of Rs 5 lakh while Pradyuman is wanted in 51 cases and carries a reward of Rs 50,000.
Two top Maoists in Bihar and Jharkhand who boast of fighting for the cause of marginalised sections of the society are millionaires and their family members lead a lavish life with the extortion money collected by cadres, according to an intelligence report prepared by the special task force (STF) of Bihar police.
The report says that children of top Maoists Sandeep Yadav and Pradyuman Sharma, who are active in Bihar and Jharkhand, study in prestigious colleges, own sports bikes and travel by air.
Sandeep, who is in charge of Bihar-Jharkhand special area committee (BJSAC), is wanted in 88 cases and carries a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head. His brother Dhanik Lal is also a Maoist.
Pradyuman is wanted in 51 cases and carries a reward of Rs 50,000. He is also a member of the special area committee. The report says that Sandeep's elder son Rahul Kumar is a second semester BBA student at a reputed private college in Patna. A sports bike, purchased from an Aurangabad showroom on down payment, is registered in his name. Sandeep's younger son Rahul Kumar lives with his mother Rajanti Kumari in Ranchi.
He also owns a sports bike and studies at one of the most reputed colleges in Ranchi. His sister studies at a private residential school in Gaya district.
Sandeep's wife is an untrained teacher at a government primary school in Lutua panchayat of Gaya district.Though Rajanti remains absent from school, she gets regular salary and owns property worth at least Rs 80 lakh, the report says.
She has Rs 13.53 lakh in three different bank accounts in Aurangabad and has invested Rs 2.31 lakh in mutual funds. The Maoist leader's sonin-law Gajendra Narayan is a teacher at Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya in Radheshyam Park area in New Delhi and has more than Rs 12 lakh in different bank accounts. He booked a flat worth Rs 35 lakh this year.
Pradyuman and his brother Pramod Singh own 250 acres of land in Jehanabad which is valued at Rs 83.8 lakh. His niece Puja Kumari travels by air and studies in a medical college at Kanchipuram. She had paid Rs 22 lakh for her admission.
The Government's response
Integrated Action Plan
GoI's ambitious plan to develop 60 Maoist districts; aimed at quick resolution of problems concerning healthcare, drinking water, education and roads. Launched in 2010, but yet to create any solid impact
Greyhound Forces
The AP state police commando force raised in 1986 that's credited with decimating the Maoist movement in the state. Greyhound veterans routinely train anti-Maoist wings of other affected state police forces.
Unlawful Activities
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) slapped on CPI (Maoist) designating it as a terrorist organization in 2009
Operation Green Hunt
The operation began in November 2009 in five states. However, this term was actually coined by the Chhattisgarh police officials to describe one successful drive against the CPI (M) in the state
YSR
YS Rajasekhar Reddy was seen as the main force that drove out Maoists from AP. The Greyhound squad was the most effective under YSR (2005-06).
Salwa Judum
Was a civilian militia mobilised and deployed as part of anti-insurgency operations in Chhattisgarh, India, aimed at countering Naxalite violence in the region. SC declared militia illegal and unconstitutional and ordered its disbanding
Surrender and Rehabilitation
A critical dimension of the problem of Left-wing extremism is the Government's policy of encouraging surrenders by Naxalites and rehabilitating them. In Andhra Pradesh, a surrendering cadre is given a sum of INR 5,000 at the time of the surrender and subsequently each of them is eligible to receive an amount of INR 500,000 to pursue an avocation of his or her choice and, thus, lead a peaceful life.
Areas of influence
Zones
Certain districts in Naxal-affected areas are "liberated zones", according to union minister Jairam Ramesh
According to a Union Home Ministry report, 53 districts in nine States in India are affected by the menace of Left-wing extremist violence as in 2003 . On an examination of reports in the English language media, evidently, there is an expansion in the presence of the Naxalites in different parts of the country. This is especially true of the PWG and the MCC.
MCC has gained a presence in parts of north Jharkhand, western areas of West Bengal bordering Bihar, and northern Orissa.
The activities of the PWG have been on the rise in Chhattisgarh, and in many areas in southern and northern Orissa, southern West Bengal, and in Andhra Pradesh--in the areas on the fringes of Nallamala forests, and in Palanadu in Guntur and in north coastal regions. Further, media reports indicate that the PWG is gradually entering into parts of Karnataka on the borders with Andhra Pradesh. Not only this, some radical elements, or Naxalites, who are believed to be linked to Andhra Pradesh-based cadres of the PWG, had been arrested while another was killed by the police in Tamil Nadu, in November 2002 . Further, Left-wing extremists have a presence in the lobe-like area in south-southeast Uttar Pradesh, which lies in close physical proximity to areas in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar.
Of all the Left-wing extremist groups, the PWG has the largest presence, in different parts of the country. At the present, the rebels claim that they have established seven guerrilla zones of domination, four in Andhra Pradesh, where the group was originally founded on April 22, 1980, one in Bihar, one in parts of Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh border, and the other in the Dandakaranya forest in central India 7 . Further, the PWG has a State Committee to over see its activities in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Haryana and Punjab. The MCC has, in the year 2003, acquired a new presence in Punjab after a little known Naxalite group, the Revolutionary Communist Center of India--RCCI (M), merged with it
Jungalmahal
Maoist-affected region in south-west Bengal, consisting of large parts of 3 districts, West Midnapore , Bankura and Purulia. Home to a sizeable tribal population; moreover, hilly topography makes region ideal for guerilla operations.
Red Corridor
Naxal-affected area covering in AP, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, MP, Orissa, UP and West Bengal. Region is market by poverty, high illiteracy and lack of employment. Primary economic activity in the mineral rich area is agriculture
Activities
Murders
Naxalites have killed political leaders belonging to various levels and have, on occasion, apologized terming the killing a 'mistake'. For instance, the PWG Naxalites had shot dead in cold blood a former Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly, Duddilla Sripada Rao 9 , and a serving Legislator of the same Legislature, who belonged to the tribal community, Ragya Nayak 10 . Subsequently, they had apologized for their mindless act
Abductions
The Naxalites' abduction attempts had on some other occasions brought them 'rich dividends'. Way back in 1987, on December 27, they had boldly abducted a group of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers in the forest area in East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, and set them free in exchange for their colleagues detained at the Central Prison in Rajahmundry, a few days later.
Extortion
The amounts the Naxalite groups earn through extortion are phenomenal. In Andhra Pradesh alone the PWG, according to one rough estimate, earns seven hundred million rupees annually; the PWG is active in nine States in India. Furthermore, there are 19 Left-wing extremist groups operating in Andhra Pradesh. Another report held that the MCC earns one billion rupees annually in Bihar alone. Extortion appears to be the primary motto of existence for the lesser known Naxalite groups. During the season in which tendu (similar to tobacco) leaf is plucked, all these groups move to the areas where the leaf is grown and plucked and implement strong arm methods to extort money from the contractors.
Terrorism
Violence/ Casualties
Killings 1980-2013
Left-wing extremism has killed 14,869 people since 1980
Bharti Jain, TNN Oct 22, 2013
NEW DELHI: Left-wing extremism, which afflicts several states, has killed a whopping 14,689 people, including 11,742 civilians and 2,947 security personnel, since 1980.
However, the 4,638 fatal casualties on the Naxalites' side were just one-third of the killings carried out by them over the last three decades.
The silver lining, however, is that the trends of Naxal violence are showing a steady decline in killings since 2010. As many as 198 civilians were done to death by Maoists in 2013 (until September 30), far lower than the 300 civilian killings during 2012.
Even the security personnel were better off in 2013, recording 88 fatal casualties as compared to 114 in 2012.
The number of Naxalites neutralized too fell from 74 last year to 52 until end of this September.
Maximum security personnel (317) were killed in 2009, while 2010, with 720 civilian killings, was the worst year for civilians.
Naxalites bore the brunt of counter-killings by the security forces in 1998, losing 296 cadres that year.
A major turnaround in Naxal violence was seen in the year 2001, when security personnel killings increased from a two-digit figure to three-digit figure.
Civilian killings witnessed a major jump in the year 1990 and have fallen from a high of 720 in 2010 to 198 till September 30 this year.
Though the Naxalites carried out a major attack in Darbha Ghati, Chhattisgarh, in May 2013, targeting a Congres convoy and killing at least three top party leaders and two dozen others, there has been a lull in their activities of late.
Officials say such a lull is not unusual during monsoon. However, with the poll scene hotting up in Chhattisgarh, the CPI(Maoist) is reportedly campaigning in the Bastar region asking the local tribals to boycott the election.
The Union home ministry fears landmine attacks, targeting of polling parties and Central para-military personnel as they access polling booths in Naxal-infested interiors, and firing attacks on choppers ahead of and during the first phase of polling in Chhattisgarh scheduled for November 11. All Maoist-hit areas are going to polls during this phase.
2012/ Early 2013
Jharkhand records highest Naxal violence in 2012
Bharti Jain, TNN Apr 20, 2013
NEW DELHI: Jharkhand not only fared as the state with the highest incidence of Naxal violence in the first quarter of this year, but it also further consolidated its lead over Chhattisgarh with twice the incidents and thrice the deaths reported by the latter.
According to the latest statistics of Red terror compiled by the Union home ministry, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar together account for over 80% of Left-wing extremist violence across the country. Odisha has shown a significant decline in Red terror, while West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh reported nil/negligible violence.
The total number of incidents relating to Naxalism fell to 272 (until March 31, 2013) from 417 in the corresponding period of 2012, and deaths to 89 as compared to 120 in the first quarter of last year. However, the share of Jharkhand in the nationwide Naxal violence is a worrying trend. The state, which has been under the President's rule since January, accounted for over 40% of the countrywide incidents and over 58% of the deaths in the first three months of this year.
Chhattisgarh, which was the worst-hit state in terms of Red terror until Jharkhand overtook it in 2011, recorded 59 incidents and 14 deaths in first quarter of this year — down from 91 incidents and 17 deaths in the corresponding period of last year. The figures for Chhattisgarh are far lower than those in Jharkhand, which reported 118 incidents and 52 deaths between January and March, 2013.
Of the 52 people who died due to Naxal violence in Jharkhand, 37 were civilians (of which 14 were killed after being branded 'police informers') and 25 from the security forces. Though the figures are lower this year as compared to 2012, Chhattisgarh showed higher civilian killings (up from 6 to12).
However, to give the counter-Naxal forces credit, killings of Maoists by the security forces rose to 18 in the first quarter of 2013 from 14 in the corresponding period of last year. Of these, most Naxalite killings were in Chhattisgarh (8); followed by Maharashtra (6) and Jharkhand (3).
Arrests of Naxalites were up from 107 to 120 in Jharkhand, from 52 to 82 ( Andhra Pradesh) and from 83 to 100 (Chhattisgarh). While arms snatching dipped to five in the first three months of 2013 from 26 in the corresponding period of last year, arms recoveries rose from 149 to 167, of which 60 were from Jharkhand alone.
Nationwide police encounters with Naxalites rose to 55 — from 46 last year — till March 31.
October 2016: Ramgarh
The Hindu, November 6, 2016
Villagers remain traumatised by the decimation of Maoists in police firing by Greyhounds, which is a special force of the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and undertakes highly risky operations against Naxalists.
The villagers remember how the Greyhounds swooped down on the Maoists. It was 5 a.m. On October 24, the day had broken and as they prepared for the day’s farming activities, the still air resounded with the cracking sound of rifles firing.
This was not the rifle sounds they were used to, the one or two rounds of fire Maoists occasionally let off. This was different. It was loud, insistent, as though a hundred rifles were firing at the same time.
“We immediately rushed back to our homes and lay sprawled on the floor and did not move for the next five or six hours, as the cold fear of death gripped us," said a Ramgarh villager.
He did not wish to be identified, neither did the other villagers who are still recovering from the Greyhound blitzkrieg, 10 days later.
No place to hide
Some ran into the village seeking refuge. A villager recalls how, as they cowered prone on the ground inside the mud hut, among the utensils, the Maoist as well, with the Greyhounds in pursuit.
They recalled how on the evening of October 23, the Maoists went calling on the neighbouring villages, seeking about half a dozen able bodied men, who, armed with bows and arrows would provide logistical support to Maoists. The underlying hope was that the adivasis would later venture to sign up as Maoists as well. Some 15 or 16 men had been taken to the camp.
No one had seen the Greyhounds. They had come through the forests, not taking the narrow, beaten path unusable in the rains, reached the hill overlooking the Maoist camp that began where the gradient began, took up positions, and waited for the day to break. From up the hill they had a clear line of fire. They could pick their targets, take them out one by one. Some of the dead must have been brushing their teeth when the bullets started coming.
While the police declared that 30 Maoists were killed, the latter in a letter identified 27 of them. According to local villagers, about 17 locals had been taken away by the Maoists for support. While nine were from Dakapadar village, six were from Bachilipadar and two from Kajuriguda village. Of these, only three from Bachilipadar have returned. One was accounted for as dead. His body was found in a culvert five days after he had died, when Maoists came to the village to do an aftermath assessment. The dead man was identified as being from Bachilipadar. The whereabouts of as many as 13 villagers is not known.
After the shootingm villagers from all the surrounding villages met but decided not to inform the police. “We are in a state of confusion. We do not know whether they are alive or in police custody or the Maoists have taken them,” said a villager from Beijingi, where the meeting was held. Not surprising, for in these parts where bullets can come from any direction, and sometimes you can’t tell who is doing the shooting.
1980-2014: Death toll
Jan 22 2015
12,062 have been killed in Naxal violence since 1980: RTI
Sandeep Rai
In reply to an RTI query, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) has revealed that a total of 12,062 civilians have been killed in Naxal violence till now since 1980. The detail was given in reply to a question filed under RTI (Right to Information) rules by a Meerut-based activist. Interestingly, when the Naxalite movement began in India, only three states were involved -Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. But by 2014, eight states had got dragged into it.
While in 1980, 70 people had died in the violence, in 2010 the number was a far higher 720.The reply also mentions that 3,078 security personnel were injured in Naxal-related violence in the last 34 years. MHA, however, did not disclose the actual number of security personnel dead in the same period.
Lokesh Khurana, who had filed the RTI query on December 4, 2014, had asked for information on 10 points. “I had asked information on various points that included the number of citizens killed in the last 34 years, number of security personnel killed, administrative efforts made to restrain Naxalites, reasons for the rise and spread of the Naxalite movement, the annual expenditure incurred on security measures and operations in Naxalite-affected areas. The ministry only gave the details on the number of civilian deaths and security personnel injured.”
2014-15: Incidents
The Hindu, September 11, 2015
29 April, 2015
Maoists torch passenger bus in Chhattisgarh
20 April, 2015
Maoists kill seven STF jawans in Chhattisgarh
19 April, 2015
» Civilians biggest casualty of Naxal violence
» The rebels strike back
» Chhattisgarh: The bloodiest battle
14 April, 2015
» Cops ignore SOPs, walk into ambush
» We had no back-up, says injured jawan
» Third Maoist attack in 72 hours: four policemen killed in Bastar
13 April, 2015
STF acted on its own: Bastar IG
31 March, 2015
Maoist killed, CoBRA commando injured in Chhattisgarh encounter
28 February, 2015
Meteoric rise of two Maoists poses new challenge for security forces
26 January, 2015
Maoists damage vehicle, block roads in Bastar
21 January, 2015
Two constables injured in Maoist attacks
20 January, 2015
2 security personnel injured in Maoist attacks in Chhattisgarh
9 January, 2015
Chhattisgarh police recover video clip showing Naxals training to gun down choppers
3 January, 2015
Two CoBRA jawans injured in Chhattisgarh blast
25 December, 2014
Sukma ambush was answer to Operation Green Hunt: Maoists
8 December, 2014
We are shown as surrendered Maoists: Sukma villagers
7 December, 2014
Sukma encounter: ‘CRPF teams deviated from planned route’
2 December, 2014
14 CRPF men die in Maoist strike
28 November, 2014
Maoists fired at IAF copter
27 November, 2014
15 Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh encounter, claims CRPF
24 November, 2014
Maoists laid a “trap” for the choppers in Bastar
22 November, 2014
» IAF gunner injured as Maoists open fire on rescue chopper » 10 jawans injured in Maoist attack
9 November, 2014
Bastar bandh: Maoists damage public property
18 October, 2014
Maoists kill an ailing policeman in Bastar
29 September, 2014
Singing for change in Chhattisgarh
6 September, 2014
CRPF suspends 17 men for inaction during Chhattisgarh anti-naxal operation
20 August, 2014
Maoists, police indulge in propaganda warfare in Bastar
4 August, 2014
Civilians killed in Bastar encounter, say Maoists
30 July, 2014
»11 Maoists killed in Bastar encounter
» One Maoist killed, 13 arrested in Bastar
7 July, 2014
Two COBRA commandos injured in Bastar encounter
28 May, 2014
Three Maoists arrested in Dantewada district
2015: Decline in Naxal activities
The Times of India, Oct 03 2015
Neeraj Chauhan
CRPF targets `informer' network to fight Naxals
The Central Reserve Police Force is targeting the `informer' network of Maoists in villages, instead of conducting major combing operations and sending troops in large numbers inside the jungle, an exercise which is bearing fruits for the force. The paramilitary force is engaged largely in Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and other states for anti-naxal operations. The strategy `intelligence based tactical operations' deployed against the informers has resulted in a decline in violence and casualties on the CRPF's side, and looting of their arms ammunitions has also come down drastically this year.
“We go inside the naxal den with a purpose now after having specific inputs about the presence of a particular group or leader. The basic advantage is that we keep engaging and surprising naxals regularly so they don't get time to react,“ said a senior CRPF official.
The officer added that CRPF's own intelligence has picked up substantially and it has better coordina tion with other intelligence agencies now.
The CRPF has also noticed a new trend where naxalites from areas like Odisha are coming forward to surrender -something which did not happen previously . The figures suggest that 377 naxalites have surrendered this year till now in all the naxal-affected states. 283 Maoists had laid down arms in 2014.
The new approach has shown positive results. According to latest figures, the CRPF has lost only four personnel this year as compared to 50 casualties in 2014.Similarly , CRPF has lost only one pistol this year while it lost 31 armsammunitions in 2014. The loss of arms ammunition was a major concern for security forces.
Asserting that the naxal problem may be solved in the next few years if oper ations and development of the region continue hand in hand, an officer said that now “only 500-600 hardcore naxals are present in Chhattisgarh“. The state is India's worst area hit by left-wing extremism.
In desperation, CRPF officials said, the naxals are now targeting the jungle tracks as well as places where CRPF and other state security personnel walk.“Earlier, they only placed IEDs on the roads to attack contingents or destroy larger vehicles,“ said the officer.
Meanwhile, CRPF has also written to MHA to bring in a mechanism to have barcoding for armsammunitions and chemicals used for explosives, so that they can be traced back to the place they were smuggled from.“This will help in stopping pilferage of explosives to naxal areas,“ said the officer.
2016: More Naxals killed than Jawans
Subhash Mishra, Dip in casualties in Red corridor Nov 14 2016 : The Times of India
`More Naxals Died Than Jawans In 2016'
A silver lining is emerging from the country's red corridor. Infested with the Left-wing extremist (LWE) violence till 2015, the corridor has seen a significant drop in the number of civilian and security forces' casualties.
According to a report by the home ministry , for the first time in nine years, the number of civilian and security personnel's casualties is less than that of the extremists belonging to Naxal and Maoist groups.
In 2016 so far, while 200 LWEs have been eliminated, the number of central forces personnel killed was 59, says the report. It further says that there has been a dip of 34% in the kill ing of security force personnel while the civilian casualty has gone down by 27% in the corridor spread in nearly 100 districts of 10 states and connected to Nepal through the eastern rim of the country.
“I am confident that LWEs would further be checked. These extremists would have to either give up their armed struggle or face drastic action,“ home minister Rajnath Singh told TOI.
The ministry status report reveals that in the past decade, 5,967 persons were killed by armed insurgents and extre mists owing allegiance to the outlawed Maoists and Naxal outfits, out of which 1,743 were the security force personnel and 4,224 civilians. But in the past two years there has been a decline in the deaths of civilians and police personnel.
In 2014, 310 security force personnel were killed while in 2015 it came down to 226. In the same period, the death toll of civilians has come down to 168 from 222. Contrary to this, there has been a 41% rise in the killing of LWEs.
2014-17: decline in violence
Naxal violence claims 12,000 lives in 20 yrs|Jul 10 2017 : The Times of India (Delhi)
Naxal violence claims 12,000 lives in 20 yrs
New Delhi
Govt: Violence Down By 25% In Last 3 Years As many as 12,000 people have lost their lives in Maoist violence over the last two decades, including 2,700 personnel of the security forces. According to a statistics prepared by the home ministry, those killed include 9,300 civilians who were either murdered by the Naxals, after being labelledas `police informers', or were caught in the crossfire and became victims.
However, the violence perpetrated by the Naxals has declined by 25% in the last three years, notwithstanding occasional reverses suffered by the security forces. Casualties to security forces also dropped by as much as 42% during May 2014-April 2017 as compared to May 2011-April 2014, a home ministry official said.
The April 24 assault on a CRPF road-opening party that claimed lives of 25 personnel was the deadliest since the April 2010 attack in Dantewada, also in Chhattisgarh, in which 76 personnel were killed.
The elimination of Naxal cadres rose by a sharp 65% and the the number of extremists surrendering recorded an increase of 185%, the official said.
The home ministry officials said currently , 90% of Maoist activity was limited to 35 districts, though they have a hold over pockets in 68 districts in 10 states.
To tackle the menace of left-wing extremism, the central government has launched the `National Policy and Action Plan' comprising security, development and ensuring rights and entitlements of the local communities. Under this plan, as many as 307 fortified police stations were constructed in Naxal-hit areas in last three years.
Besides, 1,391 km roads were constructed in some of the most difficult areas under the road requirement plan phase-I. A total of 5,412 km of additional roads were approved for construction in nine Naxal-hit areas at a cost of Rs 11,725 crore.
While 2,187 mobile towers were installed for improving telephone connectivity in re mote areas, 2,882 more are in the process of installation.
Altogether 358 new banks were opened, 752 ATMs were installed and 1,789 post offices were approved for opening in these Maoist-affected states as part of the government's plans to improve financial inclusion in 35 worst hit districts.
The home ministry has already approached the finance ministry for additional funds for extension of several development schemes which were executed in Naxal-hit states.
The security-related expenditure (SRE) scheme, special infrastructure scheme (SIS), integrated action plan (IAP) and a few other schemes will be extended for a few more years if the finance ministry's approval is received, the official said. PTI
2016: Violence by Maoists down 25%
Bharti Jain, Violence by Maoists down 25%: Rajnath, August 30, 2017: The Times of India
Home minister Rajnath Singh told the consultative committee on home affairs that violent incidents due to left-wing extremism had declined by 25.6% this year as compared to corresponding period of 2016.
Some opposition members, however, cited the heavy casualties suffered by CRPF in two Maoist attacks at Sukma this April to question if the counter-Naxal forces were properly equipped in terms of training, weaponry and technological aids.
Singh, while addressing the consultative committee meeting convened to discuss LWE-related issues, shared that Maoist violence had steadily declined since 2010, with incidents down by 53% and deaths down 72% between 2010 and 2016. He out lined the government's initiatives both on the security and development front to combat left-wing extremism, particularly in strongholds like Abujmarh region of Chhattisgarh.
2017, Jan-April
Bharti Jain, Maoists killing 1 civilian every 2 days in 2017, May 15, 2017: The Times of India
Maoists have killed one civilian every two days this year, most of them tribals branded “police informers“. The majority of the victims were tortured before being killed, with a few cases of beheadings in Chhattisgarh similar to those carried out by the Islamic State terror group.
At least 21 incidents have been reported from across Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha of CPI (Maoist) cadres blasting the offices of local contractors and targeting their staff.
The districts that reported the highest number of civilian killings, include Sukma (8); Narayanpur and Gadchiroli (7); Kanker and Malkangiri (5); and Chatra (4). In all, Naxalites had killed 62 civilians by April 30, 2017 -of these, at least 30 were executed by `Janatana sarkars' or kangaroo courts as “instant punishment“. April has been the bloodiest month, with 21 killings, followed by 16 in February , 13 in January and 12 in March. Incidentally, April was also the month 25 CRPF personnel were martyred in a Maoist ambush in Sukma.
Interestingly , local Maoists were found to have murdered civilians largely to exact revenge for old family disputes or to settle personal scores, even though they masked the killings as punishment for `police informers’.
After most killings, Maoists leave behind notes warning local tribals of “similar consequences“ if they work as informers for counter-Naxalite forces. In the last week of April, one Sewa Ram Himachi was killed by the local area committee of CPI (Maoist) in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, and a hand-written note left beside his body announced that he was being offered Rs 2,000 per month for persuading Naxalite cadres to surrender, reporting on their movements and hideouts, and training other police informers. The note further warned tribals that they should not be swayed by monetary incentives to turn police informers, as that would cost them their “precious lives“.
Sources of funds
See also Demonetisation of high value currency- 1946, 1978, 2016: India
2014: ‘BJD paid Rs 45 lakh’
The Times of India, June 08 2016
Dipak Dash & Ashok Pradhan
Former Union minister and founder of Samata Kranti Dal, Braja Kishore Tripathy accused the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of financial dealings with arrested Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda. Tripathy , a former BJD member, claimed he has proof of Rs 45 lakh being transferred from BJD's account to that of Panda. Tripathy , who left BJD to join the BJP and later formed his own outfit, said he has written to PM Narendra Modi and home minister Rajnath Singh detailing the bank accounts and dates of transaction. BJD spokesperson Amar Prasad Satapathy said the charges were baseless.
The allegations are politically explosive as Tripathy claims to have all details such as dates and account numbers and has accused chief minister Naveen Patnaik of a nexus with the Maoist leader, stating that the money was transferred during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
“I am in possession of documents that Rs 45 lakh was transferred from BJD's SBI, Bhubaneswar account No.10091755246 to Sabyasachi Panda's ICICI Bank Chhatrapur branch (Ganjam district) account No. 203601501728 on April 10, 2014,“ Tripathy alleged.
He further alleged that a day earlier, on April 9, 2014, Rs 1 lakh was transferred from Panda's account to the BJD account through cheque. Tripathy said BJD had links with Maoists and had used the rebels for electoral gain.
BJD denied the allegations. Party spokesperson Satapathy said BJD never had any association with any Maoist leader. “We as a political party have always advocated that rebels should return to the mainstream and have been working in that direction.We don't have association of any kind with any outlawed group or individual,“ he said.
Court verdicts
Kerala HC: Being Maoist not enough for arrest
Sudha Nambudiri
May 22, 2015
Person can’t be taken into custody just because he is a Maoist, Kerala HC rules
Justice AM Muhammed Mushtaq said that a Maoist can be arrested and put behind the bars only if he or she indulges in unlawful or anti-national activities..
In a significant development, the Kerala high court made it clear that a Maoist cannot be taken into police custody just because of his political leanings.
Justice A M Muhammed Mushtaq, in his order on Friday, said that a Maoist can be arrested and put behind bars only if he or she indulges in unlawful or anti-national activities.
"Being a Maoist is no crime, though the political ideology of Maoists would not synchronise with our constitutional polity. It is a basic human right to think in terms of human aspirations," Justice Mushtaq said in his order.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Shyam Balakrishnan of Wayanad stating that he was arrested and harassed by the Thunderbolt team -- a special police unit - for alleged Maoist links. The court ordered a compensation of Rs one lakh for the petitioner and also asked to state to pay litigation costs of Rs 10, 000.
The court said that the state police had violated the liberty of the petitioner by taking him into custody without verifying whether the petitioner had been involved in any offence. The order cited various Supreme Court precedents on the matter. In State Of Kerala vs Raneef, the SC observed, "In the present case there is no evidence as yet to prove that the PFI (Popular Front of India) is a terrorist organization, and hence the respondent cannot be penalized merely for belonging to the PFI. Moreover, even assuming that the PFI is an illegal organization, we have yet to consider whether all members of the organization can be automatically held to be guilty.
Balakrishnan, incidentally the son a former HC judge, had submitted that the police took him into custody and conducted an illegal search in his house. He termed the police action as infringement of fundamental rights and sought a directive to the state government to initiate disciplinary action against the DySP of Mananthavadi and sub-inspector of Vellamunda police station.
However, the court declined to issue such a directive. "If the individual or organisation abhors and resorts to physical violence, law agency can prevent or take action against individuals or organisations," the order said. The court added that the petitioner could approach the police complaint authority for action against the cops.
In its submission, the state government said that it had taken steps to prevent illegal activities of the Maoist group who were active in the forest area within Vellamunda police station limits.
Welcoming the order, human rights activists Jaison C Cooper and Thushar Nirmal Sarathy, who were arrested under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and were in jail for 47 days, said that it will help raise awareness among citizens on human rights. "However, there have been several judgments by the Supreme Court and high courts on these lines, yet the violations have continued. Ideally, in this case, the compensation should have been collected from the police personnel who violated the law rather than from the public exchequer," Jaison warned.
Thushar said that the police force in the country and the state have been indulging in human rights violations in the name of such links. "While there is no cause for rejoicing, we can always hope for something better."
Noted activist and president of Anweshi, K Ajitha also welcomed the order, and said that just because a person finds a political ideology interesting or agrees with certain principles of Maoist ideology, he or she cannot be termed a criminal. "There are a lot of people in society who might agree with the stand taken by the Naxals or Maoists as they might find that it was done for the weaker sections or for the larger good," she said.
Surrenders
2011-Nov 16
Neeraj Chauhan, Demonetisation leads to largest Naxal surrenders, Nov 29 2016 : The Times of India
Government policies in left-wing extremism affected states, pressure built up by security forces for past few months [2016] and the latest demonetisation decision seem to be making a strong impact in the region with 564 Naxals and their sympathizers surrendering before the authorities in the last 28 days, the highest number to do so in a month ever. Out of 564, officials say that 469 Naxals and their sympathisers have surrendered before the authorities since the November 8 demonetisation alone.
More than 70% of the surrenders have happened in Malkangiri district in Odisha, where Andhra Pradesh Greyhounds killed 23 Naxals in an encounter last month.
Since 2011, till November 15 2016, the total number of Naxal surrenders stand at 3,766, according to the home ministry data. In 2016 alone, 1,399 Naxals have surrendered, highest in the last six years. The CRPF officials say that several factors have contributed to the large scale surrenders, including government increasing development activities in the LWE-affected districts and clear message to Naxals and their sympathizers.
Demonetisation has thwarted the Naxals as they are not able to launder the old currency stashes to their suppliers with ease, hitting their capacity to procure firearms, ammunition, medicines, commodities of daily use and pay cash to cadres, say officials in local police and CRPF .
Home minister Rajnath Singh also hinted on Friday that Naxals are making desperate attempts to survive after the demonetisation. “They are trying to exchange their old notes through local contractors, businessmen and sympathisers,“ Singh had said in DGsIGs conference last week.
A large number of sympathisers believe that the ideology is not bringing them any benefits, said officials.
Continued Appeal
In spite of their violent activities, their dogmatic, declared antipathy towards religion, rejection of parliamentary politics and an avowed commitment to armed struggle, the Naxalites enjoy sympathy and support among sections of the people probably because they are seen as 'performing' the duties that should originally have been carried out by the 'welfare state'. In that sense, they apparently have replaced the state, and for the people they, thus, become the 'deliverers', where as the state is seen as having neglected and had, in a way, been partially responsible for their continued deprivation.
Naxalite-Politician Nexus
On the other hand, the Naxalites have established linkages with political leaders. On conditions of anonymity, one senior police official accepted the fact in an interview with this author, but declined to name some such leaders. These leaders could belong to various levels. The Naxalites and the political leaders take advantage of another and hence maintain linkages.
External Linkages
The Naxalites have fraternal ties among themselves in India and with other groups in some other parts of the world. Broadly, these could be classified as internal, regional and extra-regional. The internal ties are more in terms of defining regions of activities, where by through a range of informal understandings the various Naxalite groups have divided the 'turf' among themselves
The Maoist insurgents of Nepal, who have been waging a 'people's war' since 1996 and whose chief demand is turning the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal into a Republic, have been making a relentless effort to bring closer the PWG and the MCC.
Foreign connections
The Times of India, April 27, 2016
Naxals have links in Philippines, Turkey
The government said that Naxals have close links with Maoist organisations in Philippines and Turkey and get support from several organisations in Europe.
“The CPI (Maoist) has close links with foreign Maoist organisations in Philippines, Turkey etc.The outfit is also a member of the Coordination Committee of Maoist parties and organisations of South Asia (CCOMPOSA),“ minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju said in Lok Sabha.
The Maoist parties of South Asian countries are members of this conglomerate. Besides, left-wing extremist gro ups have participated in conferences and seminars conducted in Belgium and Germany.
“The so-called `People's War' being waged by the CPI (Maoist) against the Indian state has also drawn support from several Maoist fringe organisations located in Germany , France, Turkey , Italy etc.,“ he said.
Recovery of arms and ammu nition of foreign origin from LWE in different enco unters is an indica tion of the fact that they are procuring weapons from different sources.
“Inputs indicate that some senior cadres of the Communist Party of Philippines imparted training to the cadres of CPI (Maoist) in 2005 and 2011,“ he said.
NDA: Integrated Action Plan (IAP)
NDA's new anti-Naxal doctrine promises to deal with violence more effectively
Rahul Tripathi
October 16, 2014
The Narendra Modi Government has formulated a new anti-Naxal policy that will place greater weight on achieving "short-term goals" in the fight against left-wing extremism, marking a sharp departure from the UPA government's approach to the red corridor.
The NDA's anti-Naxal doctrine, accessed by India Today contrasts with the long-term anti-Naxal strategy championed by influential sections of the previous UPA government which advocated solutions through land reforms and by implementing the Panchayat (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA).
Home Minister Rajnath Singh's new policy focuses on the 23 worst-hit districts among the 88 left-wing extremism-affected areas. The Government is hoping to attract its best talent to serve in these troubled areas, with the policy offering new incentives for officials."The state governments will post the most competent District Collectors, SPs and sub-divisional officers and Station House Officers for fixed terms of three years," the policy states. "As an incentive, they will be assured of a posting of their choice and given extra allowances, exposure visits abroad and central deputation." Under the UPA, the anti-Naxal policy was largely focused on four states- Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha-comprising 50 districts.
Another key change being made by the NDA Government is on implementing the Integrated Action Plan (IAP), a major anti-Naxal initiative that was being run by the Planning Commission. The new plan does away with the earlier district-wise approach to development, instead focusing on lower-level blocks to implement schemes. This is aimed at reversing a trend wherein large swathes of worst-affected zones remained undeveloped.
Reaching out to the adivasis
Singh told India Today that the plan will do more to bring adivasis into the mainstream. He has outlined a strategy of giving more recognition to adivasi icons, for instance, by naming airports and roads after them and celebrating their anniversaries.
Adivasi outreach will be a central theme in the policy, he said, through increased monetary support from state governments for celebrating adivasi festivals and the setting up of dedicated museums and cultural centres. The policy will also open up recruitment in central police forces for tribals, declaring that "tribal youths who meet the eligibility criteria should not be barred from being recruited in the general category provided they meet the other prescribed benchmarks". Under the UPA regime, many cases of recruitment of tribal youth in central forces were rejected on various grounds."It is a balanced approach where on the one hand our effort is to bring the adivasi into the mainstream and on the other, to strictly deal with those who indulge in violence," Singh said.
The new development plan will identify three to four locations in each of the worst-affected districts, proposing setting up of development hubs. There are plans to speed up construction of roads in affected areas by boosting a dedicated security cover for critical stretches. The plan will also expedite the creation of an engineering wing in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the lead counterinsurgency force in these areas.
Under the UPA regime's road-requirement plan, only 3,200 km out of 5,477 km were completed in the first phase, while in the second phase, construction was hampered by a paucity of funds, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Planning Commission. The cost of building 5,600 km of roads and 48 bridges under the second phase was estimated at Rs.9,500 crore. The NDA plans to sanction this amount.
The new doctrine also envisages the setting up of a core group of ministers at the central level as an oversight mechanism. The group will have Singh as the chairperson, with Finance, Tribal, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Environment and Forest Ministers as members. Chief Ministers of 10 left-wing extremism affected states will be special invitees.
But if the NDA's new anti-Naxal plan is to succeed, many challenges have to be overcome first. Security personnel in affected areas say police stations remain ill-equipped. Even the most basic intelligence, such as dossiers on Maoist cadres active in a particular area, is not made available in many stations. In some districts, the police-to-population ratio is below the desired level. The police forces are also not adequately trained.
See also
Demonetisation of high value currency- 1946, 1978, 2016: India
