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.

Indian Government Rejects Conditional Maoist Cease-Fire Offer

Nearly two-and-half years ago, a special one-day meeting of Chhattisgarh Assembly was convened on the issue of Naxallite (Maoist guerillas) menace. But the peculiarity of the session was that it was kept secret from media. Later, Chief Minister Raman Singh gave the reason for this secrecy, saying that Naxallites would not come to know who said what in the meeting. This was the terror of Naxallites, who hold sway in 16 out of 20 districts i.e. three-fourth of the state.

Rise in Maoist Violence
Not only Chhattisgarh, a dozen states like Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh are trembling with this fear. They kill policemen, citizens, children, and women at will. They talk to media without fear and extort money at gunpoint. Recent figures show that incidents of Naxallite violence have outnumbered terrorist incidents in Kashmir and the northeast.
Home Minister P. Chidambaram admits that the government has failed to assess the strength and intentions of Naxallites. In this situation, if Naxallites have offered a 72-day cease-fire, there is no need to be enthusiastic about it. This is also their ploy.

Future Preparations
Just recently, they have killed four-dozen security force personnel and innocent citizens in West Bengal and Bihar. For the first time, the fedarl government is appearing serious on this issue and is getting ready to take action in affected states, keeping political enmity aside.
There are clear signs that the Army would also be involved in this attack. Aware of the government's intentions, Naxallites want time for self-protection and future preparations, and, therefore, they have imposed the condition that security forces should be withdrawn from affected areas before talks. We hope that the government would not get caught in such a trap.

How To Tackle?
The government has rightly announced that no condition would be accepted for talks and Naxallites would have to give it in writing that they would abjure violence. Obviously, Naxallites would hesitate to take such a step because for one, it is against their guerilla strategy, and second, it will loosen their grip on their cadres.
The situations are telling us that they could only be crushed through use of force. In this situation, it should be taken care of that Naxallites are not able to use innocent Adivasis (aboriginal people) as their shield.