NAXAL/ MAOISTS- 2009 - Indian Social Institute

command, control, communication, identifying of targets and such aspects. Security agencies feel thatthere might be manuals of further advanced warfare technique for Naxals which already has a centralmilitary commission (CMC) and state military commissions for grooming cadres into combat techniques.According to a highly placed source in the police department, the recent Mungner encounter in Gadchirolihad laid the fact bare that the Naxals are shifting to military-trained positional warfare with sophisticatedautomatic assault weapons. They are fast distancing their traditional styles of shoot-and-scoot Guerrillawarfare as well as planned mobile warfare for positional warfare. Unlike in the past, black-uniform cladNaxals showed surprising tenacity in the Mungner encounter, where three commandoes were killed, tofight for more than two hours. The C-60 commandoes were pummelled relentlessly with sophisticatedweapons. The Naxals also displayed highly developed military skills and ferocity to take on the might ofthe mighty C-60 commandos. Nepali-looking fighters and their skills had also left the Naxals stunned. Infact, the Border Security Force chopper used to ferry polling parties was also hit by Naxal bullet duringthe recent election. The seized literature, where the plan to have tunnels was found, fell into the hands ofthe security forces during an encounter at Gadchiroli during the recently concluded 'Operation Parakram'.Destroying the tunnels and bunkers constructed by the Naxals is likely to be the main aim of thecombined security forces during the forthcoming joint operations. Security forces are likely to renew theirjoint operation along Maharashtra-Chhatisgarh border soon. During 'Operation Parakram' launched toflush out the Naxals from Gadchiroli jungles after their 01/02 Markegaon carnage that killed 15 cops,security forces were often left foxed by the sheer quickness with which the Naxals would be giving theforces a slip. In fact, senior officials had claimed that security forces have often failed to capitalize onopportunities to trap or eliminate Naxals on several locations even after reaching close to a victory.Naxals not only have made safe exits from encounter spots but also managed to carry away the bodies ofdead or injured. The chopper, used during Operation Parakram, too failed to trace the Naxals during itsair-surveillances. (Times of India 3/5/09)Maoists losing support base among tribals (12)Bermo: Maoists are reportedly losing support of tribals as well as local residents in Nawadih block, astronghold of the rebels in Bermo sub-division that shares border with Hazaribagh and Giridih districts.The rebels have always enjoyed an advantageous position in Upparghat and Pannak in Nawadih due totheir support base among tribals and others. But sources said excess interference of Maoists in to the dayto day life of locals has been eroding their support base in the sub-division. “The Maoists has startedinterfering in family matter, marriages and religious beliefs of citizens. These are instances of rebelsexploiting tribal girls. Tribals are now realising that Maoists are detrimental to development in the areaand have therefore started avoiding them. People don’t join Maoists willingly,” said one of the locals. Anyvillager of Nawadih, who tries to question their conduct or raise his voice, is made silenced forever. Onsome occasions innocent people of the villages were killed by rebels in a cruel manner, which includesstabbing and slitting the victim’s nerves and throat in front of others just to terrorise them. Lives of tribalare at the mercy of Maoists. Police sources said generally villagers serve cooked food to Maoists whenthey visit their village. But when some rebels visited Pannak and Upparghat villages under Nawadihpolice station limits recently, they first asked villagers to eat the food offered to them suspecting poison init. So, the rebels are also well aware of the recent developments and discontentment brewing amongvillagers. Bokaro Superintendent of Police, Laxaman Singh said there is a great idealism and reality. Nobody willingly joins as cadre of CPI(Maoists). Human trafficking in the area is done at gunpoint. Peoplehave started realising that Maoists movement is no people’s movement, she further added People arenow fully mature enough to understand the entail perils that the Maoists have come to symbolise. In someplaces the rebels have got the taste of people’s power, we are hopeful that with the cooperation of themasses things will be much better soon, the SP added While the sources in the police said that thepresent situation in order to deflect the police action against them, the cadres have changed their strategyfor the time being, at least much to the relief of the local villagers of Nawadih. The Maoists do not haveclout in the Jhumra zone because they were once completely driven out from there. Now they move insplinter groups. But there is nothing to worry. The drive against Maoists is on and will continue till they arerouted. Better planning and co-ordination among intelligence agencies will yield results. As per officer inchargeof Bokaro thermal and Nawadih, the CRPF, JAP and State police are ready to thwart any attack ifit gets precise information and on time, Maoists will no longer have a free run, we will arrest them soon.Raj Kishor Mahto, officer-in charge of Bokaro thermal told The Pioneer that two blocks of the Bermo areconsidered happy hunting ground for the ultras left outfit. But after joining of ASP Kranti Kumar known for