by Police - Bureau of Police Research and Development

The Indian Police JournalThese two leaders became the torch-bearers of Naxalism in India andspread its romanticism to other parts of the country. In its heyday, theNaxal Movement attracted a multitude of promising youth, students,and weaker and marginalized sections of society.The Union and State Governments’ efforts to contain and curb theproblem of Naxalism have not borne the desired fruits. The divergenceand different perceptions in diagnosing the problem and regionalpolitical compulsions in tackling it have, in fact, helped move the Left-Extremist Movement ahead. Half-hearted measures are destined tomeet the defeat.Over the years, thousands of civilians and hundreds of Police personnelbelonging to the State Police and Central Armed Police Forces havebecome the victims of Maoist violence. The murders of many Ministers,public representatives and continued fatal attacks on Police personneland damage to the private and public property in different parts ofthe country and Maoist’s rising political power in neighbouring Nepalhave given a jolt to the authorities for realising the urgency of initiatingeffective countermeasures.The students of Communism know that Comrade Mao - the mentor Extremists are engaged in a political war - a struggle, which might goon for hundreds of years. The ups and downs are the accepted phasesof this political-social revolution. Every small or big contribution andevery martyrdom is a rung on the ladder taking them forward. Anydefeat or setback is an experience to learn and rectify its mistakes inthe long march to the alleged have-nots’ power.I. What is Naxalism/Maoism?Inspired by the leftist ideology of Marx, Lenin and Mao, it is a politicosocio-economicmovement manifesting in law and order problem,threatening or capable of threatening the very foundations of ademocratic society.II. Extent of Problem has split into more than two dozens of groups of different names58 January - March, 2013