Naxals/Maoists Watch

[I-G]

Three naxalites arrested after encounter in Ranchi
PTI 8 September 2009, 08:43pm IST


RANCHI: Three Naxalites of the Jharkhand Prastuti Committee (JPC), a breakaway group of the CPI (Maoist), have been arrested after an encounter at Churugarha, about 70 km from Ranchi, the police said on Tuesday.

"One of the three arrested Naxalites, identified as Raj Kumar Ganju, is a big catch for the police," senior superintendent of Police, Praveen Kumar, said in Ranchi.

Ganju was allegedly involved in a number of cases. The police reached the spot after getting a tip-off that a group of JPC members had assembled at Churugarha to plot a crime last night.

The JPC activists started firing as soon as they spotted the police, triggering a two-hour long gunbattle before the Naxalites tried to flee.

The police, however, chased and caught three of them. Three rifles and some ammunition were seized from their possession, the police super said.

Over 150 bullets were fired by both the sides, he said and claimed that some of the Naxalites had suffered bullet wounds, but they managed to flee.

The JPC, one of the six Naxal groups operating in Jharkhand, is active in Ranchi and Gumla districts.
Three naxalites arrested after encounter in Ranchi - India - NEWS - The Times of India

 

[RPK]

Maoist leader killed, four held in Chhattisgarh- Hindustan Times

Chhattisgarh police on Monday gunned down a deputy commander of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) and arrested four of his colleagues, officials said.

"We raided a CPI-Maoist hideout in a hilly area under Bhansi locality in Dantewada district and shot dead a deputy commander and arrested four of his colleagues including a minor boy," Superintendent of Police Amresh Mishra told reporters at the district headquarters in Dantewada, some 380 km south of capital Raipur.

Police have recovered some arms from the arrested militants.

Forested interiors of Dantewada district along with Bastar, Narayanpur, Bijapur and Kanker that form the 40,000 sq km Bastar region are known to be Maoist stronghold since late 1980s.

 

[RPK]

Maoists seeking alliance with NE secessionists

fullstory

New Delhi, Sept 14 (PTI) Indicating a new security challenge, the CPI(Maoist) has been trying to forge alliance with secessionist and terrorist elements, Home Minister P Chidambaram said today.

Inaugurating a three-day conference of Directors General and Inspectors General of police organised by Intelligence Bureau, he said the move of the Maoists has been taken in a bid to expand their network and influence.

"It has been keenly seeking ideological resonance and tactical understanding with the Northeast insurgents and has begun to lend support to their secessionist ideology and demands," he said.

The Home Minister said Left wing extremism purports to be a radical form of communism and today, various groups adhering to this outdated ideology have their pockets of influence in 20 states across the country.

"Over 2,000 police station areas in 223 districts in these states are partially or substantially affected by the menace," he said.

 

[Pintu]

Fight against Maoists failing, admits PM- Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times

Fight against Maoists failing, admits PM
15 Sep 2009, 1726 hrs IST, IANS

NEW DELHI: Admitting that the government had "not achieved much success" in containing left wing extremism, which he described as the "gravest internal security threat", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday also maintained that infiltration through various routes was going up.

Addressing state police chiefs on the second day of their three-day conclave, Manmohan Singh at the outset pointed to the increasing influence of Maoist rebels in vast swathes of India. According to home minister P Chidambaram, they had presence in 17 states and were responsible for 90 percent of the violence in the country.

"I have consistently held that left wing extremism is, perhaps, the gravest internal security threat we face. We have not achieved as much success as we would have liked in containing it. It is a matter of concern that despite our efforts, the level of violence in the affected states continues to rise," the prime minister said.

"As I have stated before, dealing with left wing extremism requires a nuanced strategy - it cannot be treated simply as a law and order problem. Despite its sanguinary nature, the movement manages to retain the support of a section of the tribals and the poorest of the poor in many areas. It has influence among sizeable sections of civil society, the intelligentsia and the youth.

"It still retains a certain elan. All this adds to the complexity of the problem. I expect you to keep this in mind as you devise newer and better strategies to deal with the problem."

A day earlier, Chidambaram had said that last year alone there were a 1,591 incidents of Maoist violence resulting in 721 killings; this year until August there had been 1,405 incidents, resulting in 580 deaths spread over 11 states.

While maintaining that levels of violence had come down appreciably in Jammu and Kashmir and was at its lowest level since the beginning of insurgency in the late 1980s, the prime minister said there were other worrying signs.

"But there are certain developments that are worrisome. Infiltration across the Line of Control and also via other routes such as Nepal, Bangladesh and the sea is going up. Encounters with armed militants have become more frequent in recent weeks and months," he said.

"Secessionist and militant groups within the state are again attempting to make common cause with outside elements and have embarked on a series of protest movements. The intention apparently is to create an impression of widespread turmoil in the state. We must not allow such a situation to develop. It is imperative that these efforts are contained and checked."

The situation in the northeastern parts of the country, the prime minister warned, was far from comfortable.

"In two of the states, Manipur and Assam, current levels of violence give us cause for concern. In addition, extortion and intimidation have become a menace across most of the states in the region. It should be possible, I believe, to bring about a substantial improvement in the situation if there can be better security management," he said.

The prime minister also called upon the police chiefs of the seven northeastern states to achieve higher levels of professionalism from the forces they commanded.

"Firm but compassionate handling of law and order matters can certainly bring about substantial improvement in the prevailing state of affairs."

Chidambaram had pointed to the large scale diversion of development funds to militants, giving them easy access to critical resources and helping them recruit new cadres as well as procure arms.

 

[RPK]

Maoist lynched by Jharkhand villagers

Ranchi, Sep 16 (IANS) A Maoist guerrilla was Wednesday lynched in Jharkhand when he and a colleague went to a village to extort money and threaten the residents, police said.
The incident in Segaisai village in West Singhbhum district, about 300 km from here, took place in the early hours of the morning when two members of the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) went there to collect money and threaten the villagers against helping the police, officials said.

Members of the Village Defence Committee (VDC) caught both the guerrillas and started thrashing them. While one of them managed to escape, the other was beaten to death, police said.

VDCs have been formed by police to help in the fight against the rebels and to prevent them from spreading their ideology and terror.

Maoist guerrillas are active in 18 of Jharkhand’s 24 districts. Nearly 1,550 people have been killed in Maoist-related violence in the last eight years.

 

[RPK]

40,000 sq km under Naxal control, govt tells Par panel

New Delhi: Left Wing extremists are calling the shots in 40,000 sq kilometre area in Naxal affected states where the government has no control, a Parliamentary panel was informed on Wednesday.

Home Secretary G K Pillai told the first meeting of Parliament's Standing Committee on Home Affairs that the problem of Maoists was growing rapidly and needed urgent action.


At the three-hour meeting the panel, headed by BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu, was briefed by the ministry officials about the overall internal security situation with particular focus on the Naxal menace.

Home Minister P Chidambaram has said Naxalism has spread to 20 states across the country with over 2,000 police station areas in 223 districts partially or substantially affected.

The meeting of the Parliamentary panel came a day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described Left wing extremism as the gravest internal security threat and called for a nuanced strategy to tackle the problem.

"We have not achieved as much success as we would have liked in containing it. It is a matter of concern that despite our efforts, the level of violence in the affected states continues to rise," he had told a conference here of all state police chiefs.

 

[RPK]

The Hindu : News / National : Seven Maoists, CRPF jawan killed in gun battle

Seven Maoists and an assistant commandant of CRPF died and five jawans are missing after the rebels and security forces exchanged fire near Palachelma village in Dantewara district of Chhattisgarh on Friday morning.

Massive contingents of security forces including the Cobra battalions of the CRPF have taken up combing operations to locate the missing CRPF personnel.

Security forces took up a combing operation in what is being described as a 'core area' south of Gollapalli village, on the borders of Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh for the last two days. The forces managed to raid an arms production unit on Thursday and were returning to their base camp in Konta when the Maoists ambushed them on Friday morning.

The fierce gun battle that lasted for more than two hours, seven Maoists and the CRPF assistant commandant Manoranjan Singh were killed.

Several weapons and hand grenades were recovered from the slain Maoists, sources from the police headquarters in Raipur said.

 

[Pintu]

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Frontpage | Cobra’s hunt fells 24 rebels

Cobra’s hunt fells 24 rebels

SHEENA K.

Raipur, Sept. 18: At least 24 rebels were gunned down in the strongest attack on Maoists launched by security personnel in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh since last night.

While 10 bodies of Maoists have been recovered so far, an assistant commandant of the CRPF’s elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (Cobra), Manoranjan Singh, was killed in action.

Five jawans were said to be missing and a combing operation has been launched to search for them.

This was Cobra’s maiden operation in Chhattisgarh and it involved some 600 personnel, so far the biggest movement of forces in any rebel operation in the state.

Senior police officers have denied that the operation, code name Green Hunt, was a part of the Union government’s larger plan of launching a massive anti-Naxalite operation across states.

“It was part of the state’s ongoing offensive against insurgency,” the inspector-general of police (headquarters), R.K. Vij, told The Telegraph.

Security personnel raided a rebel camp located at Palachalam, 600km south of Raipur, under Kisteram police station area on Thursday evening.

The forested and hilly area adjoining Andhra Pradesh often doubles up as a rebel hideout because of its inaccessibility. Additional director-general of police Girdhari Nayak said that jawans surrounded the area from all corners and then attacked the camp. Rebels retaliated and a gun battle ensued, continuing for the better part of the night.

Nayak added that 10 bodies were recovered and security personnel had destroyed an arms factory being run at the hideout.

During the gunfire, the assistant commandant from Manipur was killed on the spot, while four jawans were injured. The government rushed two helicopters to evacuate the injured. Sources said the condition of all those injured and admitted to Jagdalpur government hospital was critical.

The personnel then launched a massive combing operation to search for the missing jawans.

The operation coincided with the arrival of senior IPS officer Vijay Raman, 58, recently promoted by the Centre as special director-general of police to deal with the Maoist menace.

The 1973-batch officer will co-ordinate with directors general of police of seven Maoist-hit states and will be based in Raipur.

Raman landed here yesterday evening and met chief minister Raman Singh and top police officers who refused to divulge details of the meeting. He was supposed to return to New Delhi this morning, but after being informed about the operation he landed in Nagpur and rushed to Dantewada.

 

[Pintu]

Op Green Hunt puts Naxals in retreat mode - India - NEWS - The Times of India

Op Green Hunt puts Naxals in retreat mode
Vishwa Mohan, TNN 20 September 2009, 04:00am IST

NEW DELHI: The massive anti-Naxal operation in the Chinta Gufa area of Dantewada district (Chhattisgarh) witnessed fierce fighting with six CoBRA commandos and nine Naxals being killed in three days before it drew to a close on Saturday. The Red ultras retreated deep inside the forest abandoning their Singhan Madagu hideout.

Security forces — CoBRA, CRPF and state police — continue to be in the area carrying out combing operations to find out bodies of killed militants and their arsenal. Inspector-general of police, anti-naxal operation (Chhattisgarh), R K Vij, told TOI that the operation was mainly aimed at busting a weapon manufacturing unit of Maoists and their Singhan Madagu hideout. The forces did it successfully and the next step is to “dominate” the area which is now under way, he added.

Vij said: “Although this particular operation is over, we are in the process of launching similar intelligence-based and well planned pro-active operations in the entire state.”

The operation — Green Hunt — has, however, come with a price as the specialized anti-naxal central force CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) lost six personnel — two assistant commandants, one sub-inspector, one head constable and two constables.

The forces found the body of one of the assistant commandants, Manoranjan Singh, on Friday, while the bodies of the other five personnel, including assistant commandant Rakesh Chaurasia, were recovered on Saturday. On the other hand, the forces have so far retrieved only seven bodies of Naxals and sighted clear drag marks of two others amid indications that more Maoists could have been killed.

Vij, who have been in constant touch with the forces on the spot, said: “We have so far retrieved only seven bodies of ultras. We cannot give an exact figure of casualties as the Naxals usually drag back the bodies of their men to avoid any identification.”

 

[Pintu]

The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Nation | Cobras suffer big loss in Maoist battle

Cobras suffer big loss in Maoist battle

SHEENA K.

A Cobra jawan during the Lalgarh
offensive. (File picture)


Raipur, Sept. 19: The Cobra, a force specifically trained to take on Maoists, has suffered its biggest loss yet, it emerged today with the discovery of the bodies of five personnel reported missing in Chhattisgarh yesterday.

The force, known as the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (Cobra), is locked in a battle with the Maoists in Dantewada district.

Security personnel found the five bodies in the dense forests of Palachalam after a wide search.

The Cobra force had sneaked into a Maoist den in Dantewada district on Thursday and destroyed an arms factory, besides killing 24 rebels.

Operation Green Hunt, launched on Thursday, has so far claimed six Cobra men, including assistant commandant Manoranjan Singh, whose body was found yesterday.

“After a massive search, security personnel spotted the bodies of five missing Cobra men in the dense forests of Palachalam,” IG (headquarters) R.K. Vij told The Telegraph.

Among those killed were assistant commandant Rakesh Chaurasia, a sub-inspector, a head constable and two constables.

This is the first time that the CRPF’s Cobra force has suffered casualties while combing the forests of Chhattisgarh ever since the special unit was formed last year to fight Maoist guerrillas. Commandos of the unit were seen in action during the Lalgarh operation in Bengal, too.

Besides calling in ground troops to look for the missing men, the state had planned to deploy an Indian Air Force helicopter to conduct the search operation. But the troops traced the bodies before the chopper could be air-borne.

Along with the state police, the Cobra men had launched a major offensive against the Maoists by storming their den in the Palachalam forest, about 600km from here.

At least 24 Maoists have been gunned down since Thursday. The police have recovered 10 bodies so far. The arms factory being run by the rebels has also been destroyed.

Police officers said the rebel casualty figures could be higher. The rebels may have carried away the bodies of some of their cadres while fleeing, they added.

 

[Pintu]

Anti-Maoist action may start in Oct

Anti-Maoist action may start in Oct

Express News Service
First Published : 20 Sep 2009 12:32:00 PM IST

The coordinated action against the Left Wing extremists, as suggested by the Centre, is likely to start in October when the Central forces will reach the affected States, including Orissa.

While Friday’s anti-Maoist operation in neighbouring Dantewada district saw fatalities on both sides, an uneasy calm prevailed in southern Orissa, where the Left radicals hold sway.

The security
forces in Malkangiri remained alert to prevent influx of the Maoists since the Special Police Officers of Chhattisgarh are hot on trail of the radicals in Dantewada.

Confusion, however, prevailed over the series of events that occurred on the border areas. While there were reports that Orissa Police too were engaged in an encounter in MV-90 of Malkangiri, sources said it was the security forces who, after spotting suspicious movement, opened fire to keep the ultras at bay.

In Dantewada district, meanwhile, two separate incidents saw bloodshed from both sides. While members of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) sustained fatalities in an encounter with the radicals, a separate operation by the SPOs hunted down the Maoists, who are believed to have suffered heavy casualties.

``We are on guard keeping in mind the situation but the coordinated action by the affected states like Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand against the Maoists, as advised by the Centre, will start only when the Central forces arrive,’’ a senior officer of Orissa Police said.

While Orissa is likely to get at least seven battalions of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Chhattisgarh has sought Border Security Force (BSF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to take on the Red radicals. A Special DG of CRPF has been deputed in Chhattisgarh as part of the action that will follow.

However, with Motu and its nearby areas within striking distances, the security forces are keeping an eye on the possibility of ultras sneaking into Malkangiri.

Malkangiri SP Satyabrat Bhoi said the security situation has been reviewed on the border areas.

 

[RPK]

Green Hunt I ends as arms factory destroyed - dnaindia.com

Bhubaneshwar: The first phase of Operation Green Hunt, the country's biggest anti-Maoist operation, concluded on Sunday morning after troopers from the elite CoBRA force, Central Reserve Police Force and state police destroyed a Maoist arms factory inside the dense forests of Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh.

The Maoists have abandoned their posts and retreated deeper into the forest after the onslaught, which started on September 17. The jawans have seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition.

While no casualty was reported on Sunday morning, the Maoists are suspected to have lost 30 to 35 of their cadre in the operation.

Nine bodies have been recovered and the police believe more bodies are lying scattered in the forested areas of Chinta, Gufa and Krishram.

The bodies of six jawans, including two assistant commanders, who died in the operation were flown to Raipur by a special helicopter on Sunday and later sent to their villages.
Around 800 jawans were involved in the operation.

Police sources said another operation would be launched shortly, based on intelligence inputs.

"This operation will be secret,'' a senior police officer of Chhattisgarh said.

The Orissa police have sounded high alert in the districts close to Chhattisgarh. Fearing a spillover of Maoists from the state, the government has requested the Centre to dispatch seven battalions of paramilitary forces immediately.

"We are very much concerned about the anti-Maoist operation going on in neighbouring Chhattisgarh," said Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

Inspector-general (operations) Sanjeev Marik said Green Hunt was a long strategic war against the Maoists. "It will go on phase-wise."

 

[Pintu]

Govt ad blitz to counter Naxals on their turf - India - NEWS - The Times of India

Govt ad blitz to counter Naxals on their turf
TNN 21 September 2009, 02:54am IST

NEW DELHI: In a bid to win the psychological war against Maoist terror, the government has unleashed a media campaign including print advertisements, in naxal-affected states. The advertisements released on Sunday in national and regional newspapers describe naxalites as "cold-blooded murderers".

The advertisements also carry photographs of seven people, included a four-year-old child, who were killed by the Maoists in a gruesome manner in Chhattisgarh. The victims' names, age, and the incident details have been given to send home the brutal message. Home ministry spokesperson Omkar Kedia said, "The purpose of the advertisements is to expose naxals for what they are." He also pointed out that a top naxal leader had recently admitted that innocent people had been victims of terror.

"Look at these innocent people -- victims of naxal violence. Naxals are nothing but cold-blooded murderers," the advertisement says.

This is the first time that the home ministry has issued such advertisements. These were released in Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Orissa amongst other naxal-affected areas. The campaign will include films and TV spots for which the ministry will rope in the Song and Drama division of I&B ministry.

"We wanted to expose the true colours of Maoists before the nation because many people still believe in the ideology of the Maoists," a home ministry official said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, too, had warned last week that the movement still manages to retain the support of a section of tribal communities and the poorest of the poor in many affected areas. "It has influence among certain sections of civil society, the intelligentsia and the youth. It still retains a certain elan... I expect you to keep this in mind as you devise newer and better strategies to deal with this problem," Singh had said.

The government now wants to use media effectively to combat the ideological edge that Maoists have.

It is also planning to give advertisements in Pakistani newspapers about the terrorists of that country who were either killed or arrested in India and whom the Pakistan government refused to accept as their citizens, officials said.

The advertisements will carry particulars and photographs of the terrorists, including those involved in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

 

[RPK]

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Leak reveals India Maoist threat

The Indian government has obtained a leaked report that reveals the strategy of the country's Maoist insurgents.

The report is formulated by the group's top policy-making body, the politburo.

It calls for attacks on Indian security forces and efforts to stop multi-national corporations from taking over mines in central and eastern India.

Maoist violence affects a third of all Indian districts. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh calls it the single biggest threat to India's security.

Calling upon Maoist cadres to mobilise and carry out "tactical" operations against India's security forces, the 20-page document says that Mr Singh's government is preparing to destroy their resistance.

Accusing the government of linking up with the "imperialist" United States, the Maoist cadres have been asked to meticulously plan attacks against symbols of government and to "seize" political power.

Warning its cadres against getting complacent, the politburo says that India is getting assistance from America and that it should learn from the failure of the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) in Sri Lanka.

It says the LTTE's failure to understand the changing tactics of the security forces eventually led to their defeat.

Maoists argue that big industrial houses, like India's Tata Group, are helped by the government in their attempts to wrest control of mines in eastern India.

The insurgents are calling upon the tribal population to participate in an armed struggle.

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

Top Maoist leader arrested in Delhi​

NEW DELHI: A Political Bureau member of CPI (Maoist), who was spreading the organisation in urban areas was arrested here on Monday, police said. Kobad Gandhi, heading the publication wing, was caught by the Special Cell of Delhi Police following an input received from intelligence agencies, they said. However, they refused to divulge from where he was arrested. A member of the Polit Bureau, the top decision making body of the CPI (Maoist), Gandhi was also in charge of the sub committee on mass organizations and spreading its influence in the urban areas. Police said he was also in touch with foreign extreme left organizations to get international recognition for his outfit.

Link

 

[1.44]

Maoists crushed despite hurdle

Maoists crushed despite hurdle
​

.
The elite anti-Naxalite force COBRA, which suffered some casualties during its offensive against Maoists in the jungles of Dantewada’s red zone in Chhattisgarh two days ago, has come up against a major hurdle — their communication system failed while tackling the Naxalites.

“Communication in these areas is a problem and we are trying to address it. We suffered some casualties in the process, but have been able to penetrate deep in the forest area, the stronghold of the Naxalites. Now we know the area and what they are doing there,” A S Gill, director general of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), told Hindustan Times.

Over the past few months, the Maoists had destroyed around 70 mobile towers in seven worst affected states, he said, adding the government was seized of the matter and taking appropriate measures.

Terming the operation in which over 30 Naxalites were killed in the jungles of Dantewada a success, Gill said: “For years, nobody had entered this particular area. These people (Naxalites) thought nobody could challenge them there. But four teams went into the area, destroyed their training camp and an arms manufacturing unit.” The operation would continue with full force, he added.

Commenting on the casualties suffered by the CRPF, he said: "We can't expect there to be no casualty in any operation. Unfortunately, these things will happen. "But the Naxals, he added, also suffered a serious setback they never anticipated.

Though the operations against Naxals have gained momentum in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa, the 60-year-old CRPF, the country's largest paramilitary force with 2.7 lakh personnel, will be deploying additional Central forces in the Naxalite-hit states soon after the national anti-Naxalite plan is prepared.

The CRPF has intensified its operations in Chhattisgarh after posting a 1975-batch IPS officer, Vijay Raman, as its special director general at Raipur, the state capital. He has been tasked with coordinating operations with the director generals of all Naxalite-hit states for special operations and deployment of paramilitary forces.

Meanwhile, the country’s second largest paramilitary force, the Border Security Force, too is planning to deploy five battalions in Chhattisgarh to clear certain pockets of extremist Left influence. The government is likely to deploy more Central forces after the Assembly elections in October are over.

Clash in West Midnapore

Armed CPI(M) supporters and Maoists exchanged fire in West Midnapore district of West Bengal on Monday. Some people were reportedly injured. Confirming the firing by the two sides, district Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma said, “A gunbattle is raging between the Maoists and CPI(M) supporters at Enaitpur. We cannot give the casualty figure right now.” (With agency inputs)

Maoists crushed despite hurdle- Hindustan Times

 

[RPK]

IAF copters, ISRO images to be used in offensive against Naxals

The government will launch an offensive against the Naxals in various states later this year using IAF helicopters for movement of troops and satellite images to carry out surgical strikes.

As per plans, the operations would be led by the anti-Naxal force CoBRA in co-ordinations with state police and paramilitary forces CRPF, BSF and ITBP, a senior Home Ministry official said on Tuesday.

The highlight of the operations will be participation of the Indian Air Force (IAF) which will provide helicopters for the movement of troops.

Another unique feature will be the role of ISRO for providing satellite images and National Technical Research Organisation to fine tune the strategies.

The personnel of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), who have already being stationed in various areas, are now focusing on spreading their intelligence network.

The intelligence wing of BSF, which has been roped in for the renewed fight against the Maoists, will also be used to "get specific intelligence for surgical strike."

The official said the recent anti-Naxal operations carried out by the CoBRA personnel in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh cannot be regarded as the beginning of the centre's strategy to take on Left-wing extremists who now control about 40,000 km area in the country.

"The real operation is yet to start. This (Dantewada operation) cannot be regarded as the first phase of what is being planned," he said.

 

[RPK]

Chidambaram visits homes of cops killed by Maoists - India - NEWS - The Times of India

RAIPUR: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday visited the homes of an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and a police constable who were
killed in a Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district.

Chidambaram made an unscheduled visit to the homes of Rajnandgaon superintendent of police V.K. Choubey in E.A.C. Colony and constable Sanjay Yadav in Tikrapara area with Chief Minister Raman Singh.

Choubey and Yadav were killed by Maoist guerrillas July 12 in Madanwara forest area of Rajnandgaon.

Choubey was on the hit-list of Maoist rebels for years and was the first IPS officer to have been killed by the guerrillas.

Chidambaram, who landed at Mana airport in state capital Raipur around 8 a.m., drove straight to Raj Bhawan and met Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and Chief Minister Raman Singh.

After a brief meeting, he drove first to Choubey's home and consoled the bereaved family members

 

[Pintu]

http://www.ptinews.com/news/300450_Army-not-to-be-used-against-Maoists---Chidambaram

Army not to be used against Maoists : Chidambaram

STAFF WRITER 19:1 HRS IST

Raipur/Ranchi, Sept 25 (PTI) On a visit to Maoist-affected states of Chattisgarh and Jharkand, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today said there is no move to involve the Army in the fight against Naxals who posed the "gravest challenge".

Chidambaram also said it was a matter of concern that Jharkhand has become the "epicentre of left-wing extremism" along with Chhatisgarh.

"There is no proposal to involve the army in anti-naxal operations," Chidambaram, who was in Ranchi to review the security situation in Jharkhand, told newsmen in reply to a question whether there was a move to use the Army or the Air Force for the operations.

"Left-wing extremism is the gravest challenge to our way of life, our republic and our democracy," he said of CPI (Maoist) which is a banned organisation.

"Our policy on left-wing extremism is very clear.

 

[enlightened1]

Naxals shoot Chhattisgarh MP’s son to death ​

A day after union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s visit to Chhattisgarh, the suspected naxalites shot dead son of Bastar’s Lok Sabha member Baliram Kashyap near Bhairaguda temple at Jagdalpur in Bastar around 300 km south of Raipur on Saturday. In the daring attack another son of the MP was seriously injured.

Tansen Kashyap (33) who was president of Bastar Janpad Panchayat, went to the temple to perform puja along with his two brothers Dinesh and Kedar when the rebels fired from very close range. The incident happened after Kedar, who is a cabinet minister in Raman Singh government, left with his security guards after the religious ceremony was over. Both Tansen and Dinesh were rushed to Maharani Hospital in Jagdalpur in critical conditions.

According to the doctors, Tansen succumbed to the bullet injuries however the condition of Dinesh who was immediately operated upon remained stable. Dinesh, the eldest among the three brothers, is a president of Jagdalpur central cooperative bank and a former MLA.

It was the religious ritual on the Maha-asthami puja celebration that the Kashyap family annually performs at Bhairaguda temple, which is barely two km from their ancestor home.

According to the eye witnesses, some unidentified persons fired on Tansen and Dinesh barely couple of minutes after the state minister left. “After the firing commotion resulted and the four persons who fired managed to flee on cycles”, said Sudhir Kashyap, the eye witness.

Reacting to the incident, the state home minister Nankiram Kanwar reiterated his appeal to all elected representatives to remain vigilant. “I had already asked the leaders to remain alert during their visit to naxal-infested regions”, said Kanwar.

The Bastar Inspector General of Police TJ Longkumer told Hindustan Times that the police had ensured tight security arrangement during the programme however once Kedar left the place with his security forces, the remaining two brothers were without any security cover. “Apparently, there was no threat to Dinesh and Tansen so no police protection were provided to them”, said the IGP and further added that the police have launched search operation to track down the assailants.

The sate police spokesperson RK Vij maintained there were security arrangement and the incident occurred after the puja was over. “Only after the investigation it would be known if any security lapses had taken place”, said Vij.