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.

Naxalism and Government Action

The situation has turned extremely grim after the killing of over 80 security forces by Maoists. While families of those killed wail and mourn, politicians are engaged in accusations of each other. Various questions being raised over the government strategy to tackle Maoists are becoming the subject of controversy.

In this context, federal Home Minister P. Chidambaram offer to quit followed by the rejection of his resignation can be termed part of this controversy. In certain quarters, it is being dubbed as a mere drama whereas some believe it to be a move emerging out of his helplessness.

Lack of Clarity and Firmness
Amid all this, it has come to the fore that there is an utter lack of clarity and firmness among the federal and state governments on the approach of dealing with the problem. Some governments of states where Maoists are active are being accused of lacking the necessary potential to counter the menace effectively. Recently, when Chidambaram visited Lalgarh, the stronghold of Maoists in West Bengal, there took place a lot of bitterness between him and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya. An impression had gone around that no joint strategy was being formed by the federal and governments of Maoist-hit states.

The federal government would extend support to governments of Maoist-hit states, so that the regions affected by Maoist violence could be liberated from the clutches of these militant elements. Under the fresh joint strategy, the second step would be to address social and economic issues pertaining to the people inhabiting such areas, so that the administration machinery could be made effective in Naxal-affected (Maoist insurgency) areas of the states concerned. This will include construction of schools, health centers, roads, and provision of potable water. It clearly manifests that there still exist a large number of places where people are deprived of basic amenities of life.

In our view, the federal government has failed on this front because it could not succeed in creating influence in the Maoist-hit areas so far. The federal government ministers often issue statements on this issue at all levels, yet no impact has emerged. It seems the lack of cooperation among the defense forces, state governments, and the federal government is aired from time to time, yet nothing has come to the fore to this effect over the recent past.

Big Challenge Ahead
Maoists, meanwhile, have achieved a major success in enhancing their influence in major swathes of the country. In the circumstances, there is no scope for issuing clarifications and indulging in rhetoric, now. Instead, in the wake of the big challenge posed by Maoists in Dantewada, there is the need to show such performance as should succeed in overcoming the existing worrisome situation.

For, eventually action will prove results. Hence, the people of the country would feel satisfied only when positive impact will come to the fore through an effective anti-Maoist campaign.

Home Minister's Useless Appeal To China

Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna is currently visiting China. He has sought cooperation in various sectors. Making an appeal to Chinese leaders, he said: 'China should extend cooperation in the struggle against terrorism. It is a global threat to counter, which there are need-concerted endeavors by all the nations of the world. We are faced with such political ideologies as smack of narrow loyalties.'

Support for Permanent UN Membership
The minister also said: 'China should extend support for permanent membership of the UN Security Council for India. The two countries should exhibit maturity in the resolution of various disputes including the complex boundary dispute. They are not rivals and the Indian military is not in competition with China on the modernization issue.'

In so far as China is concerned, viewing its role from the very beginning, it has been undermining India by keeping its interests uppermost. It replied to the 'Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai slogan through an invasion in 1962 and grabbing 60,000 sq mile territory of India. So far so, China recognizes Arunachal Pradesh as is part and expressed opposition to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders visiting the Indian state. In Ladakh and Uttaranchal, the Chinese aircraft and helicopters have repeatedly violated the air border.

In 2009, the Chinese troops entered the Indian territory up to 1 km, and painted rocks there with red Chinese letter. They stopped the construction of a rural roadwork, which was in progress under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) project. Recently, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation toured the border area of Ladakh and it was learnt from the shepherds of that region that China is capturing the Indian territory inch by inch. It was the first visit of an Indian political party's delegation to that place.

Expressing protest over such a state of affairs, BJP President Nitin Gadkari said: "China occupied 147 spots within the Indian border during the current year and the government is concealing the fact. It is not taking any solid steps to retrieve these spots." In the Himalayan region, in the vicinity of the India border, China is building a road network and railway lines, establishing cantonments and constructing a dam on the river Brahmaputra, thereby preventing the water flow toward India. All this has greatly undermined India's security interests.

By flooding the Indian markets with its cheap and low quality products China is causing a huge damage to the Indian industries. So far so, its milk products and toys have been found extremely dangerous for health.

Communist China's Admission to United Nations
Whenever efforts are initiated for India's permanent membership in the UN Security Council, China and its camp follower Pakistan vehemently oppose it though China could get the UN Security Council membership by virtue of India's endeavors. The United States and other Western countries were opposed to the Communist China's admission to the United Nations.

China is bent upon undermining the Indian interest. A defense expert close to the Chinese troops had said in 2009 that China should adopt a strategy of disintegrating India. According to the US and Canadian analysts of the Toronto University, Chinese hackers have hacked classified documents of the Indian Defense Ministry and its missile defense system owing to which a threat has been posed to its defense mechanism.

Talking in terms pf the Chinese cooperation to counter terrorism is really astonishing. It is no secret that insurgents and rebels active in the northeastern sector of India are imparted training by China, besides receiving financial and arms support.

Inspiration for Maoists
The source of inspiration for Maoists that have become a big threat to India is none else than China and they invariably receive arms and training from China. China has also incited anti-Indian sentiments among Maoists active in Nepal. Not only that, China is a close friend of Pakistan, which is recognized as nursery of terrorism. It is China that supplied missile and nuclear know-how to Pakistan. A big seaport is being built by China at Gwadar in Balochistan for the Pakistan Navy.

In such circumstances, making an appeal to China for cooperation to counter terrorism is nothing but self-deception. Why will China extend cooperation to India against Pakistan and its own nurtured militants?

Cross-Border Narcotics Smuggling More Dangerous Than Infiltrators

With the acceleration in the activities of Pakistan-based terrorists, a spurt has taken place in smuggling of fake Indian currency and heroin and infiltration from across the border. Owing to the existence of the strongholds of Al-Qa'ida and the Taliban on either side of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, opium cultivation and its by-product heroin is flourishing as a major illegal industry, which is the biggest source of financial support to these militant organizations.

Extending Monetary Support
There are also news reports that the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and military are extending monetary support to these Pakistan-based militant organizations out of the income from narcotic products. Ever since the times of Ziaul Haq, Pakistani military officials are filling their pockets from the smuggling of heroin. According to a report of the US Secretariat of State on the international narcotics trade, smugglers push heroin to Europe enroute India.

For quite some time the Afghan and Pakistani smugglers have been pushing large quantity of heroin in collision with Indian smugglers. It is amply evident from the arrests of smugglers and recovery of huge catch of heroin at the border.

Recent Events
On 3 March: In Ajnala sector the police seized heroin worth Rs. 50 million ($1 million) from a woman smuggler and her accomplice Pammi.

On 5 March: Heroin worth Rs.2 million ($40,000) was recovered from four smugglers at Ajnala. In Tarn Taran, police carried out a raid and seized heroin worth Rs.5 million ($100,000) from smuggler Paramjit Singh.

On 6 March: At Bathinda, police seized from a gang of smugglers opium and smack worth Rs.50 million ($1 million).

On 7 March: The State Special Operation Cell, Amritsar, seized heroin worth Rs.50 million ($1 million) from three smugglers in the Khemkaran sector. Some of these smugglers suffered 13-year imprisonment for heroin smuggling.

On 13 March: Heroin valued at Rs.25 million ($500,000) was recovered from the possession of a smuggler at Chheharla.

On 18 March: Border Security Force personnel shot a Pakistani smuggler at Jalalabad area falling between the police post of Jodhewala and S.S. Walia, who was making an infiltration bid and seized from him heroin worth Rs.13 million ($260,000) and Rs.1.8 million ($36,000) fake Indian currency, apart from arms and ammunition.

On 18 March: In Amritsar, a smuggler was arrested by the state special operation cell. His name is Tehal Singh.

On 21 March: In the Amritsar sector the state Special Operation Cell after an encounter arrested five smugglers and recovered heroin valued at Rs.1.30 billion ($26 million), and one 30 bore pistol from their possession.

At Jaisalmer, the Narcotics Central Bureau seized heroin worth Rs.50 million ($1 million) from two Maoists traveling on the Inter City Express. They identified Ghani Khan and Ananad Singh who brought the contraband from Pakistan.

Infiltration by Militants
These are the consignments of heroin that were recovered by the security forces, police and intelligence agencies. In addition, there must be a large quantity of narcotics that could not be recovered. This smuggled heroin is far more dangerous than the infiltration by militants from across the border.

The infiltrator is either killed or sooner or later is killed or arrested by the police or he finds his way into the prison. But, heroin, smack and opium are such dangerous drugs that are winning the youth. Because of the addiction, they tend to indulge in crimes such as loot, robbery, etc.

Worrisome Aspect
Al-Qa'ida, the Taliban, the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba, and other terrorist organizations buy arms and ammunition with this money got from the sale of narcotics. Militants active in India also are receiving financial support from the income of smuggled narcotics through hawala (informal transaction of money) transactions. With the arrest of a couple of Maoists in the Jaisalmer sector, another fresh chapter has been added to the smuggling activity. The Naxals also have adopted smuggling as a source of income.

Another worrisome aspect of heroin smuggling is that heroin cannot be pushed into the country without the complicity, collusion, and cooperation of local smugglers as also complacency of the security forces and police. Police officials and security forces are also turning corrupt. It has, therefore, become imperative to check smuggling of heroin and to ensure that the accused are given stringent punishment. There is also the need to make necessary amendments in relevant laws to wipe out terrorism.