Naxals/Maoists Watch

[Prince]

Battle against Naxals a long-drawn process: WB Police
Kolkata: On the first anniversary of the joint forces' operation against Maoists in West Midnapore, the West Bengal Police Friday said the battle against the Naxals is a long-drawn process but the rule of law has been established in the Naxal stronghold of Jungle Mahal.

The year saw tough challenges for the joint forces during which Naxals killed 24 EFR personnel in Sildah on February 15 and are suspected to be involved in the Jnaneswari Express disaster which left 148 people dead.

"The success or the failure of the joint forces cannot be defined in a single line. It is a long process and we have to wait for some more time," West Bengal Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh told reporters.

"But, it is true that we have made significant improvement in the area in comparison to the situation last year," Singh said when asked about the success of the anti-Maoist operations.

West Midnapore Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma said, "It is true that in the last one year the Maoists have been successful in making some deadly attacks like at Sildah and the Jnaneswari Express derailment.

"But, in one year, the police and the joint forces have been successful in reaching out to the farthest corners of Jungle Mahal and rule of law has been established," he said.

Jungle Mahal comprises Maoist-hit forested areas of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts. Maoists have called for a bandh today coinciding with one year of operations of security forces in the area.

"Our primary task was to establish administrative control over the area so far dominated by the Maoists and we have done so," Verma said.

Another senior police officer said, "We have been successful in setting up a human intelligence network in the area and that has started giving results."

Citing the June 16 success of the joint forces in gunning down eight hardcore Maoists at Ranja forest, he said, "We had a specific tip off that the Maoists had set up a camp at Duli village and were staying there for two days.

"We closed in on Duli village and launched an operation which gave us a big success."

The officer also cited the March 25 encounter at Hatiloth forest in which top Maoist leader Kishenji was alleged to have been injured.
"We acted on a tip off provided by local villagers that Kishenji was present. It is true we did not find any bodies, but we sent a message to the Maoists that it was not their territory anymore. That was the first operation when we could make a dent in the red bastion," the officer said.http://www.zeenews.com/news634925.html

 

[Oracle]

'Not even cattle are carried on poles'

KOLKATA: Exactly a year after the joint forces moved into Lalgarh, intellectuals and human rights activists in the city organized a protest at the Metro Channel. The protesters were most vocal about the "illegal detention" of three city intellectuals, who were arrested on Tuesday and the encounter on Wednesday that killed eight suspected Maoists.

The demonstration was organized by the Bandi Mukti Committee. Among the intellectuals who attended were theatre personality Bibhas Chakraborty, poet Joy Goswami, MP Tarun Mondal and educationist Tarun Sanyal. All of them spoke out against the arrest of Nisha Biswas, the scientist of Indian Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Kanishka Chowdhury, the Behala College professor and writer Manik Mondal. Incidentally, police moved court for custody for the trio on Friday but the plea was rejected and the court has directed that they would continue to remain in jail custody.

"We consider this to be a small victory. If police got their way, the three would have been tortured mercilessly," said human rights activist Sujato Bhadra, who participated at the demonstration.

"We consider the arrest illegal, as the three had just gone there to find out about the condition of the people at Lalgarh. They have nothing to do with Maoists. They did not break Section 144, as it allows five people to move together. They should be released immediately," demanded a speaker.

Media photographs of dead Maoist sympathisers being carried away on bamboo poles have sent shockwaves everywhere, the speakers said. "You don't carry even cattle that way, leave alone humans. The dignity of the dead has been denied to them," said Chakraborty.

The immediate withdrawal of joint forces and a repeal of Section 144 from Jangalmahal were among the other demands.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...-are-carried-on-poles/articleshow/6065891.cms

 

[Oracle]

/\/\/\ Terrorists who kill innocent people deserve no respect, leave alone dignity when dead.

 

[Oracle]

Maoist leader Kishenji injured, hiding in Midnapore, claim police


Top Maoist leader Kisenji has been injured and hiding in West Midnapore district along with an associate and a woman leader, the police said on Saturday.

"Kisenji is hiding in the district and is injured. His associate Bikash and woman leader Tara are hiding along with him," Midnapore SP Manoj Verma told PTI. Verma, however, did not identify the exact location where they were hiding. Kishenji is believed to have been injured in a fierce encounter with the joint forces at Hatiloth forest on March 25.

Tara is said to have led the Maoists who raided the Eastern Frontier Rifles camp at Sildah in the district on February 15 that left 24 personnel dead. Police sources Bikash and Tara had plotted to attack a CRPF camp in Kathijore when the encounter near Duli village took place on June 16 in which eight Maoists were killed. They said 30 Maoist suspects have been detained with a massive combing operation still underway. "We believe that Maoists are still hiding in the areas being combed," a source said.

http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jun/19/maoist-leader-kishenji-hurt-hiding-in-midnapore-cops.htm

 

[plugwater]

Army intensifies intel operations in Red belt

NEW DELHI: The Indian Army is not a combatant in the anti-Naxalite offensive as yet, but it is readying nearly 5 divisions for the purpose — in the imminent likelihood of being pressed into the fight. The Army's anti-Naxal training module focuses on acquiring intimate knowledge of the topography and the tactics used by Maoists. All this would require the sodiers to unlearn many of the lessons imparted to them for conventional warfare, and use tactics different from those in vogue in J&K and northeast.

The Army, which has already identified four senior officers for appointment as security advisors to the worst Naxal-affected states, plans to keep the specially-trained divisions in "ready-to-deploy" condition. For that, it is pulling out troop components from artillery, armoured and other arms to put them through the new training module. Besides, the infantry units returning from counter-insurgency deployments in Kashmir and northeast will be put through the new training schedule once they have had enough rest and recuperation, sources said.

As a prelude to the eventual deployment, the Army has already stepped up its intelligence gathering capabilities in the Naxal belt. It traditionally never had any intelligence networks in the tribal areas of central India. To fill the gap, Central Command soldiers who understand tribal languages, have been deploying for intelligence gathering and analysis.

Authoritative sources said the four brigadiers, with extensive experience in counter-insurgency operations in northeast and Kashmir, have been identified for deputation to the Union home ministry. These officers will be appointed as security advisors to the unified commands, comprising paramilitary and state polices, that are being set up in Orissa, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...perations-in-Red-belt/articleshow/6057057.cms

 

[Oracle]

War on Naxals: IAF for recalling its UN choppers

Amid proposals for using helicopters for movement of paramilitary forces during anti-Naxal operations, the Indian Air Force has suggested to the government that its 15 choppers deputed for UN peacekeeping forces may be called back as it has constraints of resources.

The IAF has made it clear that it has no reservation in helping police and paramilitary forces in evacuation but is hard-pressed for helicopters as most of them are deployed for various operational requirements.

The IAF has told the government that if it were to assist in anti-Naxal operations, it would require more helicopters, Defence Ministry sources told PTI in New Delhi.

In this context, it has suggested that the 15 MI-17 helicopters deputed for UN peacekeeping missions in three African countries may be called back, they said.


"The option of calling back the choppers from foreign duties is still under consideration of the government," the sources added.

The IAF has a fleet of medium-lift Mi-17 and Mi-8 helicopters, which are used for maintenance of troops in high altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir and northeast and to carry out relief and rescue missions during natural disasters.

The Home Ministry has proposed that IAF should provide helicopters for quick deployment and evacuation of paramilitary forces during anti-Naxal operations that may be carried out in inaccessible areas.

The proposal is currently before the Cabinet Committee on Security, which is yet to take a final view. Use of the IAF for combat has been ruled out because of the risk of collateral damage.

The defence forces are not inclined to get involved in combat operations against Naxals and want to leave it to police and paramilitary forces.

At the same time, the IAF has kept four MI-17s in Raipur on standby in case these may be required for evacuation purposes in anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh.

http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jun/20/war-on-naxals-iaf-for-recalling-its-un-choppers.htm

 

[ajtr]

India train sabotage suspect held​

An Indian militia leader with links to Maoist rebels has been arrested over the derailment of a passenger train that killed some 150 people in May.

Bapi Mahato was captured as police stormed a guest-house early on Sunday.

A West Bengal police chief said Bapi Mahato would appear in court on Monday.

About 100 other people were also injured when the express was derailed in West Bengal and some carriages fell into the path of a freight train.

Police accused Maoist rebels of sabotaging the track, but Maoists denied the charge. The rebels say they are fighting for the rights of indigenous tribespeople and the rural poor, who they say have been neglected by governments for decades.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Maoist insurgency - which affects parts of several central and eastern states - as India's biggest internal security challenge.

'Huge force'
Bapi Mahato is a top leader of the People's Committee against Police Atrocities - a militia said to be close to Maoist rebels.The BBC's Subir Bhaumik says the militia is active in the Junglemahal region of West Bengal which borders Jharkhand state.

Bapi Mahato was arrested in the town of Jamshedpur, in Jharkand. A relative accused of giving him shelter, named as Bimal Mahato, was also arrested.

"We were sure of Bapi's location but Jharkhand police helped us in pinning him down. They provided us a huge back-up force with which we encircled the guest house where Mahato was staying ," the officer who led the West Bengal police team, Wakkhar Raja, said.

Bapi Mahato has been named by Indian federal investigators as the mastermind behind the sabotage that led to the derailment.

A reward was offered for information leading to his arrest and that of two close associates - Umakanta Mahato and Asit Mahato, who remain at large.

Umakanta Mahato was arrested in June 2009 and charged with sedition and waging war against the state. But he was then released on bail in December and police did not contest this, according to court records.

 

[ajtr]

Naxal problem not an armed conflict, UN told​

PTI | United Nations

India has strongly protested the inclusion of Naxal issue under the realm of an "armed conflict" in a UN report, saying the violence being perpetrated by these groups does not make it a zone of armed conflict as defined by international law.

Referring to the recent UN report that deals with 'Children and armed conflicts', India's envoy to UN Hardeep Singh Puri told Security Council that operations of the Maoist groups did not fall into the realm of an "armed conflict".

"At the outset I should make clear that the violence being perpetrated by these groups though completely abhorrent and condemnable, certainly does not make this a zone of armed conflict as defined by international law," he said. "We, therefore, cannot accept reporting on these incidents as falling within the mandate of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict," he said.

 

[RAM]

Eye in sky alerts cops about moving 'cluster' in forest-

Calcutta, : West Midnapore police had come to know about the possibility of a Maoist camp on the edge of the Ranja forest when satellite pictures provided by the Indian Space Research Organisation showed a "cluster" next to Duli village in Salboni. Armed with the sky spy inputs, the police activated their "source network" and got the "pinpointed" tip-off about a guerrilla camp there.The police said they came to know about Maoist "movement" in and around Ranja forest after the rebels recently attacked a CPM office in nearby Pirakata. After that strike, the rebels had taken off in the direction of Ranja forest and that is where they were possibly holed up.
"We then contacted the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) for satellite images of the forest. They had helped us in the past as well," an officer said. "The Isro images showed a concentration or cluster off Duli village. The images showed that the cluster was not static. In one image, it was at a particular place, in another it had shifted a bit. This suggested that a group was moving. We knew they must be a group of Maoists."Armed with this information, the police activated their "contacts". The feedback that they got was positive. On Tuesday night, the police got the "pinpointed" tip-off that the Maoists had indeed set up a camp on the fringes of Duli.
The police proceeded with the raid that night itself. Eight Maoist squad members were gunned down. This was the security forces' biggest success against the Maoists since Operation Lalgarh was launched on June 18 last year.
However, a section of police officers said the operation was only "partially" successful as most of the guerrillas had managed to flee. "According to our information, there were about 60 armed guerrillas camping there. They were divided into two groups in their camp. We carried out the assault on one of the groups successfully while the members of the other group managed to escape," the officer said.
The police said the Maoists had set up the base to stage an attack on the Indian Reserve Battalion camp at Changshol early today.
Officers believe two Maoist "commanders" were in charge of the group that had planned to attack the IRB camp. "While one of the commanders, Arjun, has been killed in our operation, we believe the other, most probably Bikash, escaped," an officer said. "It would have been a huge victory for us had we managed to kill both commanders. So, I would say the police operation was only a partial success."
The police said they would seek Isro's help whenever they needed any information on Maoist movement.
The state government filed a report in Calcutta High Court today saying the Maoists had been cornered and Delhi had agreed to send more forces to intensify the offensive.
"The Maoists in West Bengal have already been cornered. Moreover, the central government has agreed to send more forces so that we can in- tensify raids against the Maoists," advocate-general Balai Ray said in his report. The report followed a PIL demanding a CBI probe into the February 15 Shilda massacre by the Maoists.Trains stuck Over a dozen trains, including the Howrah-bound Samarsatta Express from Mumbai and the Delhi-Puri Purshottam Express were stalled for two to five hours today because of a demonstration on the tracks by a tribal outfit. It was demanding constitutional recognition for their religion, Sarna.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100619/jsp/bengal/story_12582859.jsp​

 

[ajtr]

When the means don't justify the end​

We live in violent times. Each day's newspapers bring us news of more killings: encounters in Kashmir, honour in Kashmir, honour murders in North India, terrorist groups who plant bombs in the name of Hinduism, violent Naxalite attacks and jehadi terrorism from across the border.
In recent times, Indians have done a fair amount of reflecting over the violence. The Maoists/Naxalites, in particular, have been the cause of extensive debate.

But the debate, seems to me, to flounder on a central misconception which, despite masses of evidence to the contrary, continues to reign with- in a section of the liberal intelligentsia.

This misconception is captured in three related statements. The first is: "For a man to give up everything and to turn to violence he must be really desperate and left with no alternative." The second is: "If a man is willing to sacrifice his life, then it is clear that society has given him nothing to live for." And the third is: "It is more impor- tant to understand the roots of the violence and to deal with those problems than to deal with the violence itself".

This three-step construction is employed most often in discussions on the Maoist issue. "The fact that peo- ple have taken to violence in these areas even though they may be killed tells us that we have failed as a socie- ty. We must set that right, not go on and on about fighting the Maoists".

You also hear this (though admit- ted far less often) in discussions of vio- lence in Kashmir. "Why would the Kashmiris take to arms and risk their own lives unless India had left them with no option? We must look at their genuine problems."

And of course, there is the global defence used for suicide bombers and jehadis. "The fact that a man is will- ing to use his body as a bomb tells how desperate Muslims are. The world (and the West in particular) has failed them."

You will note that with each of these constructs, the credibility kept declin- ing. We accepted this construction for Maoists, were troubled by it when it was applied to Kashmiris and were entirely unconvinced by it as an expla- nation for jehadi terrorism.

Now, let's take this further. According to the CBI, Hindu extrem- ist groups were responsible for the Ajmer blasts in October 2002, the Hyderabad blasts in May 2007 and the Malegaon blasts in September 2008.
Perhaps the same terrorists were involved in the Samjhauta Express blast in February 2007.

The people the CBI regards as being behind the blasts have been arrested and now face trial. Many are clearly unrepentant. Why then, do we not say of them: "To resort to violence, Hindus must be treated really badly in India that they are willing to risk death in terrorist activities. We should improve the lot of Hindus in India" Let's take it even further. One notable characteristic of the maniacs who kill young people out of some sense of honour is that they show no remorse for what they have done. They are quite happy to face the legal con- sequences (which include the death penalty) because they believe that they have done the right thing.

But do we even say, "For people to turn to violence against members of their own family and risk death they must have been driven to desperation by the behaviour of their errant rela- tives and left with no choice. We should sort out their family problems before punishing them?" The apologists for Naxalites and jehadis quickly abandon their special pleading when it comes to violent Hindu fundamentalists, let alone rel- atives who practise honour killings.

The different standards they apply to causes they approve of versus those they dislike, exposes the fundamental fallacy behind the people-only-resort- to-violence-when-they-are-desperate- and-have-no-choice argument.

Take the case of the Maoists. I don't think any educated Indian disputes that the Indian State has failed to deliv- er either social justice or even an ounce of prosperity to the hapless tribals of Central and Eastern India. Contrary to the caricature painted by self-right- eous professional activists, the aver- age Indian does not treat the Maoist issue as a mere law and order problem.

But equally, who is to deny that there certainly is a law and order compo- nent to the problem? No State can afford to abdicate control over large swathes of its territory. And if a group declares war on the State then the State must fight back. There is no contradiction between being sympathetic to the problems of the tribals and refusing to allow parts of India to slip into lawlessness.

Nor is it at all clear that people turn to violence only because they are des- perate. Take the example of jehadis.
Osama bin Laden is a millionaire who lived in luxury. The 9/11 bombers were middle class and well-educated. Even our home-grown terrorists tend to come from middle-class backgrounds.
These are not children of deprivation, left with no choice but to turn to violence.

I get particularly annoyed when I hear some liberal activists arguing that 26/11 was a response to the problems faced by Muslims in Gujarat and Kashmir. The terrorists came across the border, they had no real experi- ence of deprivation or suffering at the hands of the Indian State and acted only out of misplaced jehadi fervour.
These were not desperate Indian Muslims striking out against the bru- tal Hindu majority -- even the Pakistanis don't claim that any longer.

Besides, if the jehadis are protest- ing Hindu domination, then why are there many more attacks in Pakistan, a Muslim-majority State? It is a mat- ter of chance that Ajmal Kasab's jeha- di masters sent him to Bombay.

He could just as well have ended up in Karachi and caused havoc there.

It is significant that the they-are- desperate-and-have-no-choice argu- ment is rarely trotted out to justify Hindu extremist violence. Who oppresses Hindus in this coun- try? Why should they be so desperate that they have to turn to violence?

The truth is that these are people who regard violence as an acceptable form of discourse. Such people include terrorists, Maoist revolutionaries, Hindu nutters, jehadi fundamentalists and maniacs with a twisted sense of family honour.

It is dangerous -- and entirely wrong -- to argue that such people are driven to violence because of des- peration. The reality is that they active- ly chose violence.

Three factors lead to violence: strength of feeling, a belief that vio- lence is not morally reprehensible and often, a sense that the violence will go unpunished. Each time we fail to recog- nise this and do not ensure that the perpetrators of violence are tracked down and punished, we strengthen their hands and give them more scope to kill policemen, blow up trains, attack temples and mosques and murder errant relatives.

So, of course we need to deliver social justice to tribals and we need to guarantee peaceful lives to the people of Kashmir. Nobody in his or her right mind disputes that.

But let's stop romanticising Maoist killers. Let's stop making excuses for terrorists. Let's accept that when it comes to the crunch, a murderer is a murderer is a murderer.

 

[samarsingh]

Is there any truth in Maoists being covertly assisted by Christian Missionaries. After all the missionaries have been quite active in tribal areas. Also there has not been a single untoward incident towards christian missionaries. strange considering maoist ideology, how can they allow evangelism. this could explain their funding...
past events in some countries in latin america are stringingly similar
these allegations have been around for a long time and one can find lot of arguments supporting it, specially in pro BJP/RSS blogs....would appreciate replies.....
also major powers do all sorts of things to destabilise "strategic enemies"...

 

[Pintu]

Is there any truth in Maoists being covertly assisted by Christian Missionaries. After all the missionaries have been quite active in tribal areas. Also there has not been a single untoward incident towards christian missionaries. strange considering maoist ideology, how can they allow evangelism. this could explain their funding...
past events in some countries in latin america are stringingly similar
these allegations have been around for a long time and one can find lot of arguments supporting it, specially in pro BJP/RSS blogs....would appreciate replies.....
also major powers do all sorts of things to destabilise "strategic enemies"...

samar, I may recall that VHP leader Laxamananda Saraswati and 4 other leaders by Maoists while attacking an ashram in Orissa,they accused him causing communal tension , now , I don't think any link could be found out between Maoists and Christian Missionaries, but this incident can heat up communal tension between two certain communities.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...dwan-for-Maoist-links/articleshow/6099846.cms

Constable nabbed in Burdwan for Maoist links
TNN, Jun 28, 2010, 03.23am IST

KOLKATA: Police have long suspected that Maoists have penetrated their ranks. Now, they may have confirmation. Binod Mishra, a constable posted at Howrah police lines, was picked up on Saturday night for links with the rebels.

When he was caught in a lodge in Burdwan town, he had a large quantity of explosives hidden in milk cans, they say.

Mishra had not been attending duty for two years, say sources. His seniors planned a departmental inquiry but he remained untraceable. A couple of months ago, intelligence agents got on his tail.

For long, intelligence officers were receiving inputs that some men in the force were involved with Maoists and smuggling out information and ammunition to them. Mishra was among the suspects but police had no evidence, said a source.

Finally, with precise inputs from the Intelligence Bureau, a joint team from Burdwan and Kharagpur pinned him down in Burdwan. West Midnapore police confirmed that he was intercepted with explosives meant for the Maoists.

Mishra was taken for interrogation to Midnapore, where a gunrunner from Munger, Mrintunjay Singh, is already in police custody.

Investigators suspect that Mishra is the tip of the iceberg and his interrogation may lead to a larger racket as in Uttar Pradesh, where some CRPF jawans were found involved in an arms racket. "Maoists use ordnance factory ammunition. Certainly, some people are sup-plying them these bullets. Like in UP, there may be some bad apples in our force," said an intelligence officer.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...rrested-in-Gadchiroli/articleshow/6096807.cms

Four Naxals arrested in Gadchiroli
TNN, Jun 27, 2010, 05.30am IST

CHANDRAPUR: In two separate operations Gadchiroli police arrested four Naxalites including an ex-dalam commander on Saturday. Three Naxalites were nabbed during a joint combing operation of Gadchiroli police and CRPF from Gurrekasa jungle under Murumgaon armed outpost, while the former commander of Bhamragad dalam was picked up from Allapalli on the basis of a tip-off.

Police sources said that that the joint team carrying out anti-Naxal operation in the jungles in Dhanora division got a tip-off about presence of suspected Naxalites in Gurrekasa jungle on Saturday. The forces immediately rushed to the area for combing operations. Soon they intercepted three suspected Naxalites moving in the jungle and apprehended them.

"The three have been identified as Nirangu Narote (35), Manker Madavi (50) and Budhker Pada (25). They are residents of Gurrekasa village. A manually loading gun has been seized from them," sources said.

Gadchiroli police gained yet another success, after an ex-dalam commander was rounded up from Allapalli bus stop in the afternoon. SDPO, Aheri, Sandeep Pakhale said, "We got a tip-off about the presence of Naxalite at Allapalli bus stop. Immediately a team was dispatched and Sarju Zuru Zore (37) who was about to board a bus was arrested. Zore is ex-commander of Bhamragad dalam."

 

[Patriot]

Always in the Line of Fire
Harinder Singh and Ramesh Phadke

For some weeks now there has been a growing chorus for the employment of the armed forces to combat the ever growing Naxal threat. With every Maoist strike the demand gets shriller and the opposition also becomes equally vociferous. There is an urgent need to address this dilemma because there has been a tendency among civil society to root for the armed forces every time the country faces a crisis situation; whatever its origins and objectives. But use of the armed forces would be counter productive and severely stretch their resources that are meant to be used to face external threats.

While the threat of Maoist violence has indeed become increasingly menacing and has spread to a sizeable expanse of the country, the state response has been less than adequate. As a result, there exists an atmosphere of despondency and helplessness sometimes bordering on desperation. The reasons for this less than optimal response are not far to seek. An enduring lack of consensus between the central and state governments, accompanied by the inability of the state police and central paramilitary forces to contain the threat, are the main causes for the worsening of the problem. Compulsions of coalition politics both at the state and the centre and the unholy nexus between some elements in the establishment and exploitative elements in civil society has allowed the Maoist leadership, ideologues and their sympathisers to capitalise on the genuine grievances of the tribals - since Maoist affected areas are also rich in minerals and natural resources - and at the same time question the legitimacy of the state apparatus and response. Employment of the army also cannot guarantee a lasting solution since the problem is essentially political. As seen in Jammu & Kashmir and the North East, the army had brought the situation under control over a decade ago but the regions continue to be plagued by civil unrest and poor development.

Ironically, the Indian state boasts a strength of 716,0001 paramilitary forces – a whopping 60 per cent of the strength of the army. Here, we do not include the 65,000-strong Rashtriya Rifles (RR), because the force was specially raised to fight the insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir, remains manned by army personnel and is under the control of the Ministry of Defence. The 64,000 troops of Assam Rifles (AR), a true paramilitary force officered by the army but controlled by the Ministry of Home Affairs, are deployed in the Northeast. Of the remaining forces, 208,000 BSF personnel are primarily deployed to guard the international borders, whereas 230,000 CRPF, and 94,000 CISF men are currently employed in various other sundry security tasks wherein they perform only static, VIP security, watch and ward, and guard duties at vital installations. As a result, they find themselves completely incapable of undertaking counterinsurgency operations involving guerrilla tactics in difficult terrain. Absence of suitable and appropriate training and organisational structures prevent their ability to respond to such threats and hence the confusion and reluctance on the part of decision makers to deploy them in strength. Very often aged and yet inexperienced leadership is employed in a knee jerk fashion resulting in avoidable failures and casualties. Lack or at times complete absence of local intelligence exacerbates the problem.

Under these circumstances the clamour for immediate and massive deployment of the armed forces would appear natural. This would, however, have serious and long term consequences and carry the risks of further stretching the capacity of the armed forces to face external threats and defend the nearly 5000 kilometres of disputed and live border almost all of which falls in difficult mountainous terrain. Inhospitable and hostile terrain in these border areas compel the armed forces, especially the army, to periodically rotate their personnel from forward areas to peace time locations to ensure adequate rest and recuperation with their families and training to continuously enhance and update their skills. The soldier's rest and recuperation time has already reduced to a level where he spends a mere 18 to 24 months in peace location before he is once again due for a three-year long field tenure. The over two decade long insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir and the Indian Army's involvement has increased the total time spent by a soldier in field areas from about half to two-thirds of his total service career of 17 to 20 years. The army has already witnessed a higher level of dissatisfaction and unhappiness due to the soldier's inability to find enough time to resolve pressing familial issues back home. Insensitivity and indifference if not total apathy of civilian officials at the district level further exacerbates this problem and affects the morale of the troops. This, therefore, leaves a very small number of reserve forces for deployment in other contingencies. It is therefore axiomatic that the additional burden of combating the Maoists shall aggravate the army's difficulties. There is also the risk of the armed forces inviting more criticism from civil society, especially from the Maoists sympathisers if and when allegations of excesses are made. This would be fodder for those vehemently opposing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) without which the army simply cannot be expected to function.

Our past experience clearly shows that the army has invariably fought internal disturbances and insurgencies with one hand tied behind the back and suffered avoidable loss of life. The myth of an insensitive army unleashing disproportionate violence on hapless civilians and taking shelter under the so-called draconian AFSPA needs to be exploded here and now. It is not as if the army is beyond law but it certainly dislikes being dragged into concocted allegations and litigations that are often politically motivated. The Indian Army has always taken the most stringent action against wrong doers. The truth is that the army has all along shown the utmost distaste to get involved in any operations directed against fellow citizens. Unlike the Pakistan Army which routinely uses offensive air power and heavy weapons to quell civil protests and insurrections the Indian army has mostly resorted to softer methods. Past experience shows that long term deployment in counterinsurgency operations affects the mindset of the soldier and requires re-orientation for the primary role of fighting conventional military threats.

This, however, does not mean that the armed forces cannot make a useful contribution in combating this grave national threat. The army can help train in reasonably good time a sizeable number of paramilitary forces including young officers to lead them from the front. It can also run short term courses for middle and senior level paramilitary leadership to sensitise them to the gravity and magnitude of the problem and the inescapable necessity of addressing it on a war footing. Fighting the Maoist threat can no longer be treated as a part-time task. Another very cost effective and efficient way of building paramilitary forces is to immediately begin or allow the lateral transfer of ex-servicemen to quickly build their capacity. Currently some 50,000 thirty five to forty year old servicemen retire every year, and of these a sizeable proportion is already trained and experienced in counterinsurgency operations, providing a readymade and willing element for almost immediate deployment. The reason why this economical option has not been used in the past, we believe, is the problem of granting the ex-servicemen the necessary and well deserved seniority, perks and status that their true worth actually demands. It is time that the civilian bureaucracy overcame the fear of being swamped by the military. Such a mutually beneficial enterprise would undoubtedly help the paramilitary to absorb specialist military skills at no additional time and cost.

Yet another area of useful contribution that the army can make is in providing training for logistical support operations. Here the experience of RR battalions is relevant. Traditionally a RR unit consists of personnel with various assorted skills such as signalmen, mechanics, doctors and paramedics and maintains its own accounts and stores records enhancing the overall efficiencies and the ability to instantly react to a situation. We also recommend the use of helicopters and where possible UAVs for reconnaissance, surveillance, air mobility and casualty evacuation. Even a relatively small force of helicopters seconded or owned by the paramilitary (BSF already has a few) can provide almost instantaneous reinforcement in crisis situations raising the determination and morale of the CRPF and its sister organisations. Finally, it is imperative that the senior paramilitary leadership learns to function from operational command centres on a 24x7 basis to be able to provide timely guidance, support and oversight. The one critical attribute for success in anti-Maoist operations, however, is the availability of reliable and accurate intelligence for which the services of local police and CID/IB and state intelligence operatives is inescapable and unavoidable.

In short there are no short cuts to overcoming this grave threat to our democratic way of life. Broadening the mandate by handing over the problem to the army is neither fair nor efficacious.


http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/AlwaysintheLineofFire_220610

 

[nitesh]

now this is a kick a$$ development:

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-...-warfare-to-pack-a-punch/Article1-561717.aspx
Army's school of warfare to pack a punch

The Army has firmed up plans to set up a counter-insurgency warfare school dedicated to training paramilitary forces near Raipur in Chattisgarh. The first-of-its-kind training facility, to be manned by 500 soldiers including 120 officers, will churn out 7,000 para-military personnel every year.

In a proposal sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Army has sought 1,200 acres near Raipur for setting up the school.

An Army officer told HT, "We sent the proposal in the first week of June after carrying out a comprehensive study. The school will be operational within six months of allotment of land." The Army has also proposed deploying an infantry battalion (around 800 soldiers) at the same location for providing security and demonstration of counter-insurgency drills to the trainees.

The school will be modelled on the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School at Vairengte in Mizoram, but will be bigger than the CIJWS. It would be headed by a Major General and also have representatives of the MHA and Intelligence Bureau, he said.

The Army's involvement has so far been limited to training para-military personnel for counter-insurgency operations. The force has trained around 50,000 state and central police forces at various military establishments, including the CIJWS.

The Army has also proposed deputing Colonels, who have learnt their trade in Kashmir and North-East, to Naxal-affected states for giving operational advice. "The experience of these officers in the counter-insurgency environment could lend new momentum to the government's counter-Naxal efforts," sources said.

The Army has suggested the raising of new specialised units consisting of Army veterans to create a new template for fighting Naxal cadres. The IAF has sought permission to pull out its Mi-17 helicopters serving UN missions in Africa, anticipating a bigger role in providing logistics support to security forces in anti-Naxal operations.

 

[Oracle]

Major Maoist attack on CRPF convoy in Chhattisgarh: 20 hurt

At least 20 Central Reserve Police Force troopers are reported to be wounded in a major Maoist attack near Narainpur in Chhattisgarh.

Three CRFP companies -- about 300 troopers -- were opening up roads in the area when the attack occurred.

As darkness fell, the troopers were reported to be seeking sanctuary from likely Maoist attacks in the night.

More details are awaited.

http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jun/29/major-maoist-attack-on-crpf-convoy-in-chhattisgarh.htm

 

[RAM]

26 CRPF personnel killed in Maoists attack in Chhattisgarh

NEW DELHI: Three months after it lost 76 men in an ambush by Maoists, the CRPF suffered another massive loss in Bastar: 26 of its men were killed when the Maoists attacked a road opening party in Narayanpur district.

CRPF special DG Vijay Raman told the Times of India that 26 CRPF men have been confirmed dead and 5 injured. The casualties may be higher. "These are not final figures," Raman said.

The attack took place just three kilometres from a CRPF camp in Dhaudhai on a road leading to the densely forested Maoist-controlled Abhujhmad area.

The party of "about company strength with 70 personnel" was on its way back from clearing the road when the Maoists opened fire from a hilltop.

"We are in the process of evacuating our men. Some have been brought back. Others are being brought back to safety," said R K Dua, IG CRPF. He added that while two seriously injured men had been evacuated by helicopter, the air sortees had to be suspended as evening fell.

Brigadier B K Ponwar, who heads the Jungle Warfare College in Kanker said, "You have to be doubly secure when making the return journey along the same route. You need to secure all areas from where you can be fired upon."

Union home secretary G K Pillai said security and medical reinforcements have been sent to the spot and all the bodies have been recovered. The injured have been taken to a hospital by a helicopter, he said, PTI reported.

The troops were from the 39th battalion of the force and were a part of its 'E' and 'F' companies, CRPF chief Vikram Srivastava said.

On May 8, eight men of the paramilitary force were killed when naxals blew up a mine-proof vehicle also in Narayanpur district.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...ttack-in-Chhattisgarh/articleshow/6106846.cms

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/752300_Chhattisgarh-CM-condemns-Naxal-attack-in-Narayanpur

Chhattisgarh CM condemns Naxal attack in Narayanpur

STAFF WRITER 0:22 HRS IST

Raipur, Jun 29 (PTI) Strongly condemning the Naxal attack on CRPF contingent in Narayanpur district in which 26 personnel were shot dead, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today said their sacrifices will not go in vain.

In the latest of a series of deadly attacks by the ultra-Left activists, 26 CRPF personnel were shot dead and eight injured in an ambush in a remote area in the district.

"The security personnel have laid down their lives to free the people from Naxal terror. Their sacrifice will not go in vain," the Chief Minister said.

"The Naxals have carried out a cowardly act. People and groups having faith in human rights should condemn this act of murder in once voice," he said, vowing to end the Maoist menace in the state.

"The extremists lack moral courage to engage in a direct fight with our brave security forces," he added.

 

[Pintu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...sts-seized-in-Kolkata/articleshow/6104645.cms

Ammunition meant for Maoists seized in Kolkata
PTI, Jun 29, 2010, 10.32am IST

KOLKATA: Over 5,000 rounds of .315 cartridges, possibly meant for the Maoists, were found in a car after it was intercepted by police for violating traffic rules near Shovabazar Metro Railway station here.

A traffic sergeant on a motorcycle stopped the car bearing a Bihar registration number yesterday at Jatindra Mohan Avenue for jumping a red light and asked for the papers, police said today.

When one of the occupants of the car alighted, the driver sped off with the traffic sergeant chasing it, police said, adding the man who had got down fled from the spot.

The sergeant caught up with the car and managed to stop it, as two others in it fled, the sources said.

A search of the car revealed 5000 rounds of .315 bore ammunition, they said, which was possibly meant for the Maoists.

Police said similar ammunition was used by the Maoists. The seizure was being investigated by the Special Task Force of the police.

The discovery of the ammunition comes two days after a police constable belonging to the Howrah Police Lines was arrested in Burdwan town for supplying explosives to Maoists.

Earlier in 2003, 25,000 rounds of ammunition destined for militants in Kashmir and those operating in North East, were seized from an abandoned truck in the metropolis.