Use of Military: If Not Now, Then When?

A spurt in Maoist violence is taking place speedily. Their network has spread in seven states of the country -- West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Adivasi (native tribal people) forest regions of Maharashtra, and is trying to spread its tentacles to other states as well.

Responsibility of States
Former Home Minister Shiv Raj Patil did not recognize Maoists as any grim threat as he maintained that 'out of the country's 10,000 police stations only 361 and out of 100,000 villages only 1,400 villages are affected by Maoism, which works out to just one-three percent of the total area of all villages. Even otherwise, law and order is the responsibility of the states.'

The truth is that since 1989 the influence of Maoists has expanded to several states and over 1,300 citizens and 6,000 security personnel have been made victims of their violence. They mustered up so much courage that after their massive attack on the Jahanabad prison and Police Lines, they started series of strikes through big groups. Five hundred Maoists struck Nalagarh in Orissa, killing 14 policemen by attacking the police training center and escaped with over 700 firearms and ammunition.

Anti-Maoists Campaign
Following the anti-Maoists campaign at Malkangiri in Orissa, when the squad of Gray Hound commandos of Andhra Pradesh was being ferried in boats, the boats capsized as Maoists attacked, killing 35 of them. Thereafter, Maoists went ahead with their strikes on railway stations, schools, block headquarters, police stations, and centers of security forces in various states and the government continues to talk in terms of strengthening police stations.

The police systems in the state are generally weak and there is acute shortage of manpower in police stations and armed forces. They do not have arms with which they can counter Maoists equipped with modern weapons. The number of police stations and police personnel has not increased in commensurate with the rise in population.

Increasing Strength of Security Forces
In the wake of the Mumbai attack, P. Chidambaram took over as the home minister and took a number of steps to increase the strength of policemen and security forces and providing them with modern weapons. The CRPF was entrusted with the task of tackling Maoists, but they have their limitations.

Notwithstanding all this, the Maoist activity continues. Recently, they attacked the Eastern Rifles camp at Silda in West Bengal, leaving 24 soldiers dead. On the eve of Chidambaram's visit to Nalagarh (West Bengal), Maoists launched attacks at two different places, killing two security personnel. Even then he declared that military will not be used but Maoists will be wiped out within three years. Within 24 hours of his announcement, 1,000 Maoists exploded landmines in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, blew up the patrol vehicle of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), killing 83 of them. At least 150 CRPF personnel are still missing.

The government goes on experimenting even in such grave matters. In Jammu and Kashmir when peace returns, the government at the instance of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) leadership or the ruling party National Conference leaders reduces the strength of the military there, as a result of which, cross-border infiltration increases and a spurt in violence takes place. Likewise, nonutilization of the military boosts the Maoists' courage. Two examples of Punjab and Sri Lanka are before us where peace could be restored with the use of military.

In order to wipe out Maoists, it has become imperative to use troops trained in guerilla and jungle warfare by equipping them with modern weapons. The mindset of ruling leaders is that the use of military will bring bad name, but one may ask whether a bad name is not being earned due to the Maoist attacks. They also think that the families of those killed will be satisfied with the compensation of Rs.1-2 million. Our leaders care a fig for the common people because not a single member of their family gets killed in such attacks.

Elimination of Maoists
The government took effective steps when bomb explosions took place in the vicinity of the residences of ministers and MPs and when militants attacked the Taj Hotel and the Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai as rich people stay there.

Chidambaram has spoken in terms of elimination of Maoists within three years. But by that time Maoists will fortify themselves. At present, he is engaged in strengthening his forces by paying a monthly salary of Rs.3,000 ($60) to the Adivasi and rural security personnel. Owing to the government's policy of thinking in long-term and complacent approach not only the courage of Maoists is being bolstered but also that of the dacoits and criminals in North India where incidents of loot and murder are taking place in broad daylight. Hence it is high time the military is pressed into service.

Maoists Strikes Continue in Chhattisgarh

Maoists (Naxals) launched a major offensive against the security forces in Chhattisgarh killing at least 73 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in an ambush in Dantewada district of the state on 6 April. Maoists attacked the security personnel between Chintalnar and Tademetla in Sukma block when were on way to Tademetla in Sukma block of Dantewada in a vehicle. The Maoists first triggered a landmine explosion and the moment the vehicle stopped, the rebels ambushed the CRPF team from a hill top.

The total casualty is 73 and about 12 CRPF personnel have been injured. The reinforcement has reached the ambush site and recovered 40 bodies. The CRPF party was out for last three days.

Tough Time for Security Forces
A gun battle is presently going on at Jagargunda in Chintalnar block of Dantewada district between hundreds of armed Maoists and approximately 100 CRPF personnel.

The forces are facing difficulty as the area has been blocked by the Maoists. Maoists had built bunkers on the hill top and CRPF personnel not aware of the bunkers. The attack was preplanned. They first attacked the CRPF mobile van followed by firing.

Home Minister Shocked
Expressing shock over the 'very high' casualty of the CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said something must have gone 'drastically' wrong in the joint operation with the state police. He said that the casualty was very high and I am deeply shocked at the loss of lives. This shows the savage nature of CPI(Maoist) and their brutality and the savagery they are capable of.

Chidambaram said that more forces have been sent to the area to take on the Maoists. Chidambaram said "The state police and CRPF have jointly mobilized forces in the area. I am sorry for the people who have lost their lives. The security forces are monitoring the situation.

A contingent of CRPF personnel from West Bengal has already been mobilized and ordered to move to Dantewada. The CRPF team was going to Sukma where a gun battle had been taking place between security forces and Naxals since 5 April evening when it was attacked. One CRPF personnel had already been killed and another injured in the gun battle on 5 April.

Dialogue With Naxals

Home Minister P. Chidambaram has rejected the Naxal (Maoist guerillas) proposal for talks as pointless. Any possibility of a discussion between the sides seems to have thereby faded away. The government probably is in no mood to have talks with Naxals. This is true of the other side as well. Efforts made for talks so far have not been very serious on the whole.

Naxals were asked to give up violence only for 72 hours and to send a written proposal for talks. They placed the condition for a ceasefire, and gave a mobile number for discussing matters. This mobile number too was that of a kidnapped policeman. Is this the way to take steps for dialogue?

Government's Intention
Aspersions may be cast on the government's intention to hold talks with Naxals. But the attitude of Naxals is much more dubious. It suggests that they have the strength of constitutional authority. It has been proved by repeated attacks on police forces that Naxals are unwilling for discussions. They justified these heinous activities as "Operation Peace Hunt" in retaliation to the government's "Operation Green Hunt."

The killings of 24 policemen in West Bengal became part of "Operation Peace Hunt". It can be deduced from such barbaric deeds that Naxals are suffering from the same psychology as terrorists like the Taliban. At a time when Naxals are showing their stubbornness and prejudice, strangely enough a section of intelligentsia is pressuring the government for talks with them. Is this possible if the adversary is absolutely unwilling to come to the table?

If Naxal sympathizers really want a dialogue between both sides, they must shoulder the responsibility of convincing Naxals to show some seriousness and maturity. Since this appears to be a remote possibility, the government must make preparations to rein in Naxals who are becoming more daring and powerful. The federal government seems to be determined to overcome Naxal organizations. But the states affected by Naxalism have started showing their reluctance in this regard.

Wavering Attitude
Naxals are now targeting common men and police forces. Yet, instead of retaliating, the affected states are coming up with all kinds of excuses. Some of them are claiming to be trying to convince them, while others are dreaming of a change of heart among them.

There are certain states that are more concerned about their own interests. Meanwhile, Naxals are taking full advantage of the states' wavering attitude.

Having failed to win the cooperation of these states, the federal government has been unable to take any step, in spite of the best of its intention. Nor can much satisfaction be derived from the coordination reached between state police forces and the Central Reserve Police Force (CISF) after a lot of hard labor. It has also been decided that their joint forces will fight Naxals. Could this work not have been started years ago?

Indian Public Concerned About Internal Security as Corrupt Forces Prevail

On 26 November 2008, Maharashtra Police Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare and nine other police personnel were killed in an encounter with terrorists in Mumbai. In this connection, charges were leveled that Karkare fell victim to bullets of terrorists due to the sub-standard bulletproof jacket he wore. The Maharashtra Government ordered an investigation into the matter related to the purchase of jackets.

Conflicting Reports
What is surprising is that the jacket removed from the body of Karkare went missing and later a cleaner admitted that he had thrown the jacket into the filth dump of a hospital after putting it in a plastic cover. Now, conflicting reports emanate about the loss and recovery of the jacket. The file pertaining to the purchase of jackets went missing from the department concerned and action is still being taken against certain personnel.
After the incident, keeping in view the surge in terrorist activity in the northeast region and incidents of violence being carried out by Maoists, the union Home Ministry had taken a decision for the purchase of 59,000 bulletproof jackets for paramilitary forces.
In this context, a tender advisory committee headed by director general of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and a technical review committee under the overall supervision of the director general of the Bureau of Police Research and Development were constituted.
The task of testing of samples invited along with tenders was entrusted to the Defense Research Development Organization (DRDO) and the Terminal Ballistic Missile Laboratory (TBML). When the matter pertaining to the test report and approval of tenders was under the consideration of the tender advisory committee, complaints about the bulletproof jackets started pouring into the Home Ministry. So far so, a CD of the dubious conversation between the TBML joint director and the representative of the company that submitted the tenders found its way into the Home Ministry. Thereafter, union Home Minister P. Chidambaram rejected all the tenders and ordered a probe into the entire matter and directed that action should be taken against the DRDO.

Combating Maoists and Terrorists
It is a tragedy that in spite of the warnings of the Mumbai attack a year ago and red alert sounded in the wake of terror attacks carried out in various parts of the country, bulletproof jackets have not been purchased so far. No lesson was learnt even after the death of Hemant Karkare and his colleagues, and certain officials are still not desisting from bungling with regard to the quality of bulletproof jackets and purchase thereof.
Now tenders will be invited and new samples will be tested by the DRDO afresh and it is not known when these bulletproof jackets will be purchased and when the same will be supplied to security forces. Until then the conditions of playing with the lives of soldiers engaged in combating Maoists and terrorists will continue to prevail because of these corrupt elements. These security forces will not lag behind in ensuring the security of the general public and the country as a whole.

Lapse in Internal Security
What sort of stance and negligence will be adopted by bureaucrats was actually witnessed by former Defense Minister George Fernandez, himself visiting Siachen. He was the first Indian defense minister to visit Siachen and he saw that woolen clothes and other material needed to wear by soldiers deployed in that region was insufficient. Charges of corruption were also leveled with regard to food articles supplied for use in that area. Fernandez had immediately taken steps for the supply of sufficient quantity of woolen clothes and other suitable material for the soldiers deployed at the higher snow-bound terrain.

It is but natural for the general public to feel concerned about the internal security as bulletproof jackets are not purchased for paramilitary forces or corrupt practices are noticed in their purchase. Those in power may be making claims of increased in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), yet until the public life becomes secure how could the common man transact his business fearlessly? What is the use of sounding a red alert in the context of the possibility of terrorist attacks in such circumstances?

Widespread Maoist Movement in India

After the Naxal (Maoist guerillas) firing on a police patrol party in Chhattisgarh, murder of 17 persons in Amose Bhiron village of Bihar, massacre of 19 policemen in Maharashtra, and killing of a police inspector Francis Induwar in Jharkhand, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Naxals cannot be called militants and the possibility of use of military against them is also ruled out.

Earlier, he also said that the government would not bow before Naxals. The government will not remain a mute spectator toward activities such as extraction of money, looting, snatching, and violence by Naxals. Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram also commented, "Until the Naxals lay down their weapons, talks cannot be held with them."

The statements of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister fell on deaf ears of Naxals. On the contrary, they gave a call for closure in Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

During the shutdown, the Naxals blew up railway tracks in Jhrandi area of Dhanbad, burned three trucks in Giridiah and damaged a bridge by triggering explosions. A telecommunication tower of a private company was set on fire in Burky Salia village of Bihar.

In West Bengal, a worker of an anti-Maoist committee was murdered. Two officials of the Punjab government and the Punjab State Electricity Board were killed at Amarapura in Pukur district of Bihar.

Naxal activities continued for the second day in Bihar and Jharkhand. They ransacked the railway station at Bansipur, set ablaze the divisional office of Sangrampur, and blew up a building of a school in Chatra village of Jharkhand. A polling booth was targeted at Garhchiroli in Maharashtra. It is astonishing that the prime minister is speaking in term of not using military against Naxals, saying that they are not militants.

Aim of Naxallites

The aim of Naxals is to grab power through the barrel of a gun in accordance with Maoism. Hence, it is futile to hope that they would join the mainstream of the country's democratic order.

Distressed over the turmoil triggered by Naxals, the Communist Party of India-Marxist-led West Bengal government is also appealing to the Union Government to wipe out Naxalism. It is worth mentioning that Maoism also influences the West Bengal Government. It was owing to this inclination toward Maoism that the Communist Party of India was divided a few years ago.

Central and State Governments Approach

After the capture of Lalgarh, etc. in West Bengal by Naxals, at the instance of the Bengal government, the central government rushed the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel there and freed Lalgarh. Viewing the gravity of the situation, Chief Minister Budhadev Bhattacharya called on the prime minister and the home minister recently to start a joint campaign for the elimination of Naxals. They suggested that an identical drive should be launched in neighboring Jharkhand state because Naxals fled to another state easily after carrying out an incident in one state.

In response to the appeal of Chief Minister Budhadev Bhattacharya, the union government agreed to deploy 17 companies in West Bengal. All this manifests the gravity of the situation and that it is beyond the capacity of state governments and their police to deal with Naxals. He has suggested that a similar drive should be initiated in the neighboring Jharkhand state. That is why Naxal-affected state governments are asking for deployment of more security forces to combat Naxal violence.

What Should Be Done?

Notwithstanding the deployment of the central security forces, the conditions there are not being brought under control because the CRPF has also its own limitations. The position of the police is such that its strength is not in proportionate with the rising population. It is, therefore, better to press the military into service in order to wipe out Naxals.

In Punjab, militancy was eliminated by deployment of military when terrorism was at its peak there. It was owing to the complacency of the government that forest smuggler of the South, Veerappan, could not be arrested for a long time. The image of India continues to be that of a "soft state," and China and Pakistan are exploiting our softness.

While the government persists with its policy of not using military against Naxals and offering to hold talks with them, they continue to intensify their activity and extend their area of influence. Although the government is using only the CRPF to counter Naxals, yet eventually it will need to press the military into action to wipe out Naxalism [Maoist movement] that is posing more and more threat to India's internal security.

Resolving Kashmir Issue

At the meeting held on August 17 in New Delhi on the internal security issue, Kashmir issue took precedence over all other issues. The meeting was attended by chief ministers of difference states in the country. In his address to the conference, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh threw light on the current situation in Kashmir.

The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah said that although incidents of militancy have come down the infiltration from across the border still continues. He disclosed that terrorists in Pakistan are awaiting an opportune moment to attack India yet again.

Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act
Omar Abdullah also addressed the conference and demanded repeal of the Armed Forces [Special Powers] Act (AFSP), in Kashmir because the situation in the state is getting normal gradually. He also demanded filling of vacancies caused by withdrawal of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) battalions from Kashmir, so that there is no security lapse in maintaining the rule of law.

On 15 August, the chief minister had specifically emphasized in his speech at the Bakshi Stadium that he would approach the Union Government to get the AFSP Act revoked and also attempt to impress the Union Government to reduce the strength of the Armed Forces deployed in the state. The Chief Minister had already assured that the responsibility of internal security would be handed over to the state police.

If five battalions of the CRPF have been withdrawn, their place can easily be handed over to the state police. He also stressed the need to encourage trade across the border. He specifically pointed out that the barter system has not proved effective and traders do not like to follow the barter system. Some traders have withdrawn themselves from trading.

It is for the Union Government to implement the demands raised by Omar Abdullah who attended the conference as an ambassador of Kashmir. The Chief Minister also drew attention to a very important issue. He informed that a large number of Kashmiris are returning on Pakistan's Passport via Nepal. He termed it an extremely dangerous issue and stressed the need of immediate attention.

Improving Situation
Earlier, the Prime Minister Singh said that the Amarnath Yatra ended peacefully in the state and there was no issue of law and order, nor any attack took place. He termed it adherence to the secular traditions of the people of Kashmir.

The Prime Minister said that although the situation has improved in Kashmir, yet the increase in infiltration is a matter of concern because infiltrators are hardcore militants who are heavily armed. He added that some people have been trying to blow stray incidents like that of Shopian, Baramullah, and Spore out of proportion to create internal dissension.

Earlier addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, the Prime Minister had described the role of separatist unnecessary. Going by the situation, it appears that the Kashmir issue has been placed on the back burner, yet again. The Government is only worried about maintenance of law and order and is gravely anxious about when militancy would come to an end.