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Fighting Naxals: Target leaders
Targeting the leaders is the new mantra for the Centre’s fight against Naxalism. Seconding the Andhra Pradesh model of dealing with Naxalism, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has asked the paramilitary top brass to identify the leaders’ set-up of Naxal outfits and undertake operations to cripple the movement of ultras.
In a meeting with CRPF top brass recently, Chidambaram argued that cadre can be recruited overnight but leaders cannot be made and urged the paramilitary to apprehend Naxal leaders like Kishan Da of Bengal, SS Panda of Odisha and Kundan Pahan of Jharkhand.
“The effort should be to build the atmosphere of confidence amongst public, disrupt the movement and roll it back to the level possible,” he told the officials at the operations conference of the CRPF.
The Home Minister said the AP model of dealing with Naxalism was right as the State police targeted senior leaders of the Naxal outfits.
The security forces have so far eliminated top Naxal leaders like Azad and Kishenji.
The level of violence in the Naxal-affected States has come down as a whole. “The trend as of now is a significant let-up in situation in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, increase in violence levels in Jharkhand and Maharashtra and status quo in the situation of Bihar and Odisha. The job is far from over, not even half done,” he said.
In Chhattisgarh, the situation has improved but the Bastar region remains sensitive for being the epicentre of Naxal activities. In Odisha, Malkangiri and Koraput continue to be the hotbed of Naxalism whereas in West Bengal, Junglemahal is the centre of problem.
Nowhere the Naxals are down and out, on the contrary they have gained support of civil society and demanded withdrawal of Army from Bastar, restrain the so-called Salwa Judum, pressurise State Government to institute inquiry into Azad and Kishenji’s killings, a CRPF official said.
As things stand, among others the CRPF is also grappling with the problem of over-aged Head Constables, who face difficulties in coping up with strain in Naxal areas. It has sent a proposal to the Home Ministry for promotion of Constables to Head Constables. Head Constables are deployed at the cutting edge level and at present, are mostly between 40-45 years in age.
The CRPF has also sought the intervention of the Home Minister on the issue of complete waiver of one-time relaxation for purchase of jungle shoes. It further demanded an increase in the allotment of the night vision devices.
In 2011, the CRPF lost only five weapons to the Naxals, lowest in last 20 years. Also the losses suffered by the CRPF in anti-Naxal operations last year was 29, which is lowest in 25 years (in 1986 the figure was 15).
Targeting the leaders is the new mantra for the Centre’s fight against Naxalism. Seconding the Andhra Pradesh model of dealing with Naxalism, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has asked the paramilitary top brass to identify the leaders’ set-up of Naxal outfits and undertake operations to cripple the movement of ultras.
In a meeting with CRPF top brass recently, Chidambaram argued that cadre can be recruited overnight but leaders cannot be made and urged the paramilitary to apprehend Naxal leaders like Kishan Da of Bengal, SS Panda of Odisha and Kundan Pahan of Jharkhand.
“The effort should be to build the atmosphere of confidence amongst public, disrupt the movement and roll it back to the level possible,” he told the officials at the operations conference of the CRPF.
The Home Minister said the AP model of dealing with Naxalism was right as the State police targeted senior leaders of the Naxal outfits.
The security forces have so far eliminated top Naxal leaders like Azad and Kishenji.
The level of violence in the Naxal-affected States has come down as a whole. “The trend as of now is a significant let-up in situation in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, increase in violence levels in Jharkhand and Maharashtra and status quo in the situation of Bihar and Odisha. The job is far from over, not even half done,” he said.
In Chhattisgarh, the situation has improved but the Bastar region remains sensitive for being the epicentre of Naxal activities. In Odisha, Malkangiri and Koraput continue to be the hotbed of Naxalism whereas in West Bengal, Junglemahal is the centre of problem.
Nowhere the Naxals are down and out, on the contrary they have gained support of civil society and demanded withdrawal of Army from Bastar, restrain the so-called Salwa Judum, pressurise State Government to institute inquiry into Azad and Kishenji’s killings, a CRPF official said.
As things stand, among others the CRPF is also grappling with the problem of over-aged Head Constables, who face difficulties in coping up with strain in Naxal areas. It has sent a proposal to the Home Ministry for promotion of Constables to Head Constables. Head Constables are deployed at the cutting edge level and at present, are mostly between 40-45 years in age.
The CRPF has also sought the intervention of the Home Minister on the issue of complete waiver of one-time relaxation for purchase of jungle shoes. It further demanded an increase in the allotment of the night vision devices.
In 2011, the CRPF lost only five weapons to the Naxals, lowest in last 20 years. Also the losses suffered by the CRPF in anti-Naxal operations last year was 29, which is lowest in 25 years (in 1986 the figure was 15).
