NAXALISM
The killing of 24 security personnel by the CPI-Maoist on a camp of the Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) in West Midnapore district of West Bengal is another outrageous and daring attack by Maoists which has once again brought to the fore the grim problem of our internal security posed by the Maoists who aim to seize power through violence to overpower the established legal authority. The attack comes barely a week after Chidambaram held a meeting in Kolkata with officials of Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal to launch an inter-state operation against the left-wing extremists. Many parts of our country is now facing severe Naxal problem recently and its now after the appointment of P Chidambaram as Home Minister the problem has really been taken up at war level and solution is trying to be reached. In this step the Home minister took up the problem of Naxalism with the Chief ministers’ summit in New Delhi recently and also held two meeting with Chief Ministers of Naxal affected states separately. Bihar Chief minister Mr Nitish Kumar and Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren did not attend the latest meeting. They are of the belief, and this belief is shared by most top leaders in Bihar and Jharkhand, that Naxalism cannot be solved with an iron hand. These Naxalites or MCC people are mostly indigenous tribals who have taken arms because primarily fruits of development have not reached them, they feel. In fact Mr Chidambram just days before had offered talks with Naxal leaders if they temporarily stop violence. Perhaps he realises rightly that the problem and people are also very delicate and any miscalculation will lead to full fledged war with our own people and result in many deaths and it will also take us back by many years and it will take enormous time and money to again integrate them back in the mainstream of Indian Democracy. Also several NGOs and activist stand by the side of the Naxals and from time to time Mamta Bannerjee’s Trinamool Congress has been accused of being hand in glove with the Naxals. Mr Chidambram has words of wisdom also for so called intellectuals and supporters of Naxal movement "I would like to hear the voices of condemnation of those who have, erroneously, extended intellectual and material support to the CPI-Maoist. It is only if the whole country rejects the preposterous theses of the CPI-Maoist and condemns the so-called 'armed liberation struggle' that we can put an end to the menace of Naxalism (Maoism) and bring development and progress to the people in the conflict zones." We have also to understand that the Maoists come form same tribal ranks who have taken up arms.They were hither-to peaceful all these years suddenly became so powerful that they run parallel governments and have power to challenge the state and no one dares to enter their den! Recently they have stepped up their attacks on railway properties as they are soft targets being spread across the jungles in a wide area. One remembers that in 1857 war of independence too Tribals took part in the struggle against British rule. Are they carrying on their struggle with the elected governments year after year? The naxalites have established their control in many parts of the India- Chattisgarh is worst affected by Naxal violence and together with Jharkhand accounted for 60% of total death due to Naxal violence. Of late they are also targeting economic targets more alarmingly. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Naxalite problem as ‘the single largest threat to India’.
The ‘Red Corridor’ runs through the dense forest and tribal belt, from Nepal through Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and all the way to Andhra Pradesh and to the upper reaches of Maharashtra, and some parts of Karnataka. It is alleged that they now have established partnership with terrorist groups based in Pakistan and they are also aided by the Maoists based in Nepal after Nepalese have been successful in installing Maoist government in Nepal, from Bangladesh and most of all from China, which is supplying them money, sophisticated arms and modern gadgetries. Occasionally top Maoist leaders are reported to have been sneaked to these neighboring countries too. Inside their corridor, the Naxalites run a parallel government and vow to continue their fight against the state—a full-fledged war they call ‘people’s struggle’. All the Left-wing militant organisations, including the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) and the People’s War Group (PWG), after their merger are now operating under the flagship rebel party—CPI (Maoist).The Central intelligence reports have also issued a warning that the Maoists are now in the process of identifying ‘new operational areas’ across the country. They are keenly looking at industrial belts, where big corporate houses are planning to set up the Special Economic Zones (SEZs), an easy target to launch violent agitation. CPI (Maoist) Politburo and Central Committee talk about the need to run a secret service and unleash psychological wars through effective networking of various friendly groups in the urban areas. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Naxalite movement was immensely popular. There were reports of brilliant students, including from IITs, dropping out of college to join the struggle for the rights of the tribals and landless labourers. Over the years, as the principles diluted, Naxalite movement saw much of its membership waning away. Nevertheless, it has an endless supply of men and women, victims of State apathy to their condition joining its ranks, which shows that many still believe in the cause.There are many so called intellectual sympathizers too to their dastardly acts of violence. But one thing has to be remembered that once this sympathy for violent naxalism starts, it has no end and now it has come to the situation when the Naxals have started killing the same intellectuals. The so called intellectuals must remember that instigating or abetting violence under any circumstances is a double edged sword. Post 26/11 world has realised this menace and violence of any form, killing of women and children and innocent people is totally condemned world over, even if it is for just means. According to a confidential report of the military intelligence, India’s 231 districts in 13 States, including three in the NCR, are now being targeted by the Maoists to achieve their ultimate aim—seize power in Delhi by 2050. So far, it is believed that about 170 districts falling under the dreaded ‘Red Corridor’, also known as the Dandekaran Belt, are reeling under the Maoist terror. In Chhattisgarh, Bastar’s dense jungles are considered to be the Maoists’ centre of gravity. In southern Bastar, the Maoists have declared the Chintainer area as their Dandekaran State’s capital.
Mr Chidambaram in interview recently with CNN-IBN Chief Rajdeep Sardesai mentioned an important fact that the Naxal problem aggravated during last 10 years. I remember when I completed my MBA from Patna, Bihar by 1994 end, there was no problem as such in Bihar-Jharkhand. But suddenly when I used to go to Jharkhand after 4 years or so, by 1998, I frequently found bandhs there. Earlier Jharkhand (then South Bihar) used to be very peaceful place where there were booming activity both in terms of industrial as well as market; and Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Dhanbad were crowning glory or combined Bihar state and later on separate Jharkhand state. But somewhere down the line something worse had happened along those years and after gaining literacy and awareness that had taken place in these areas, thanks to the good work done by missionaries in these areas, the tribals began to realize that they have been taken for a ride for all along these 40-50 years or so and the fruits of economic activities which were carried in these areas which was primarily for their upliftment was being siphoned off to other places, their land and forests were slowly gobbled up by the outsiders, minerals being excavated both by PSUs and private miners in collusion with corrupt leaders, leaving them with just with pollution-air, water and food- poverty, illiteracy, bad infrastructure, etc. Naxalism, MCC, had taken firm root and was starting to play havoc and by the 1990s, they had formed a parallel government even issuing diktats to the tribals of the region At later stages and even in the present situation, Naxals now manage to take hostage entire village; railway stations are also bombed; even the election machinery is not working. I remember my father who is now a retired professor was given election duty during the general and elections used to shiver on hearing that he would be sent on election duly to Jamshedpur or Chaibasa or those intense jungle areas where the rule of the Naxals run riot and no rule of law was there. Policemen cannot enter those areas, traffic is standstill once the evening sets in, no doctors or social workers or government officials can manage to enter these areas. One must also remember that the passengers traveling by trains all over India are in greatest danger today because of this. Trains run across densest of forests in India and most of them arre Naxal affected. If we dont take strong steps today, someday I fear a whole train may be kidnapped and the state will not be able to do anything. Only some happless GRP cant do much. The problem is most acute during the night. These worst fears came true when recently Bhubaneshwar-Rajdhani train was stopped by Naxals in Midnapore, WB. Fortunately no damage was done it everything is passed off peacefully without loss of life.
So what is the solution then? Recently I watched a very thoughtful discussion on Naxal problem and solutions in DD News Channel. Very thought provoking and objective and it gave a gist of what can be done to contain and solve the menace. (Other channels should learn how to conduct meaningful debate and discussion in a quite way as it is done in DD News channel.). Many facts came to be known and also some history behind it and attempts made earlier by the governments in solving the problem.
The first rebellion against the Naxalites was the 'Jan Jagran Abhiyan', started by veteran congress leader Mahendra Karma in 1991; this later collapsed, leading to large scale killings of tribals by Naxalites. Mahendra Karma, the tribal leader was a minister in Ajit Jogi’s Congress Government in Chattisgarh. In 2005, he organised the Salwa Judum movement against Naxalites (initially Salwa Judum movement was anti-Naxalite people’s movement against the atrocities of the Maoists inflicted on the tribals and later on Mahendra Karma jumped into the fray). The initiative was praised by the BJP Chief Minister Raman Singh and the government supported it and provided them protection. A few years later the state government adopted the Salwa Judum model in order to fight the Naxals and over the years trained a number of SPOs or 'Special Police Officers', from amongst the tribals, who are part of Salwa Judum in the state and witnessed a marked rise in success against Naxalite action. However the Salwa Judum movement was later discredited by Human rights activists citing examples of burning houses, extortion, excesses against women, employing minors and large scale displacement of the civilian population caught in the conflict between the Naxalites and Salwa Judum activists with at least 100,000 people moving to various camps in southern Chhattisgarh or fleeing to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh as of early 2008. However by mid-2008, movement's frontliner, Mahender Karma announced that it will soon cease to exist and end 2008, saw Salwa Judum having lost its earlier momentum was only restricted to its 23 camps in the Dantewada and Bijapur districts of Chhattisgarh The government has defended the Salwa Judum movement and refrained from discrediting it, despite pressure from it Left allies, as setting up Village Defence Committees (VDCs), has been a tested model of police-civilian co-operation in conflict area such as Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast, and dacoit-infested areas of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and UP.
Bandopadhyay Committee: In May 2006, the Planning Commission appointed an expert committee headed by D. Bandopadhyay, a retired IAS officer instrumental in dealing with the Naxalites in West Bengal in the 1970s. The expert committee has underscored the social, political, economic and cultural discrimination faced by the SCs/STs across the country as a key factor in drawing large number of discontented people towards the Naxalites. The committee established the lack of empowerment of local communities as the main reason for the spread of the Naxal movement. The report holds the faulty system of land acquisition and a non-existent Relief and Rehabilitation policy largely responsible for the support enjoyed by the Naxalites. On the other hand, the committee makes a forceful plea for a policy and legal framework to enable small and marginal farmers to lease-in land with secure rights while landless poor occupying government land should not be treated as encroachers. For the first time in the history of the Naxal movement, a government appointed committee has put the blame on the State for the growth of the movement. Providing statistics of 125 districts from the Naxal-affected States, the committee finds out that the state bureaucracy has pitiably failed in delivering good governance in these areas. The report recommends rigorous training for the police force, not only on humane tactics of controlling rural violence but also on the constitutional obligation of the State for the protection of fundamental rights. Making a departure from the usual government position, the expert committee concludes that development paradigm pursued since independence has aggravated the prevailing discontent among the marginalized sections of society. Citing democratic principles, the report also argues for the right to protest and discovers that unrest is often the only thing that actually puts pressure on the government to make things work and for the government to live up to its own promises. Dealing with Naxalism needs a holistic approach with development initiatives as an integral part of the security approach. Security here must be understood in its broader perspective, which includes human development in its scope, because human security is an inseparable component of any human development formula, and vice versa.
Perhaps, not many have heard of Bandhopadhyaya committe report which was submitted its report years back. The problem is that as usual governments organise the high powered committees to study the problem and recommend solutions, but when it comes to implementation never bothers to see the report. One thing which comes out clearly in the discussion on Naxal problem is that there should be three pronged strategy now to solve the problem First, it should be the strict use of force in intensely crime affected areas to finish out the Naxals. Secondly intensely carry out development work in the areas affected by Naxalism. And Thirdly bring the Naxals to negotiating table and genuinely find the solution and implement them. The main thrust should be to implement all the three pronged attacks honestly and swiftly without wasting time, otherwise it will be too late .There has to be rule of law, people have to be come in contact with government officials, their problems should be listened and honestly resolved There future also needs to be taken care of in terms of employment, because all these areas are under dense forests and rich in minerals Some day or the other government will definitely reach out to these areas for mineral excavation then some bigger resentment will take place. This is the thought for all of us. We must remember that if Punjab militants and Kashmiri militants can be made to sit across the table then why not Naxals? We have to be optimistic Remember, many dreaded dacoits from dense forests of MP laid down their arms and they are all leading normal life - Phoolan Devi was MP!
The killing of 24 security personnel by the CPI-Maoist on a camp of the Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) in West Midnapore district of West Bengal is another outrageous and daring attack by Maoists which has once again brought to the fore the grim problem of our internal security posed by the Maoists who aim to seize power through violence to overpower the established legal authority. The attack comes barely a week after Chidambaram held a meeting in Kolkata with officials of Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal to launch an inter-state operation against the left-wing extremists. Many parts of our country is now facing severe Naxal problem recently and its now after the appointment of P Chidambaram as Home Minister the problem has really been taken up at war level and solution is trying to be reached. In this step the Home minister took up the problem of Naxalism with the Chief ministers’ summit in New Delhi recently and also held two meeting with Chief Ministers of Naxal affected states separately. Bihar Chief minister Mr Nitish Kumar and Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren did not attend the latest meeting. They are of the belief, and this belief is shared by most top leaders in Bihar and Jharkhand, that Naxalism cannot be solved with an iron hand. These Naxalites or MCC people are mostly indigenous tribals who have taken arms because primarily fruits of development have not reached them, they feel. In fact Mr Chidambram just days before had offered talks with Naxal leaders if they temporarily stop violence. Perhaps he realises rightly that the problem and people are also very delicate and any miscalculation will lead to full fledged war with our own people and result in many deaths and it will also take us back by many years and it will take enormous time and money to again integrate them back in the mainstream of Indian Democracy. Also several NGOs and activist stand by the side of the Naxals and from time to time Mamta Bannerjee’s Trinamool Congress has been accused of being hand in glove with the Naxals. Mr Chidambram has words of wisdom also for so called intellectuals and supporters of Naxal movement "I would like to hear the voices of condemnation of those who have, erroneously, extended intellectual and material support to the CPI-Maoist. It is only if the whole country rejects the preposterous theses of the CPI-Maoist and condemns the so-called 'armed liberation struggle' that we can put an end to the menace of Naxalism (Maoism) and bring development and progress to the people in the conflict zones." We have also to understand that the Maoists come form same tribal ranks who have taken up arms.They were hither-to peaceful all these years suddenly became so powerful that they run parallel governments and have power to challenge the state and no one dares to enter their den! Recently they have stepped up their attacks on railway properties as they are soft targets being spread across the jungles in a wide area. One remembers that in 1857 war of independence too Tribals took part in the struggle against British rule. Are they carrying on their struggle with the elected governments year after year? The naxalites have established their control in many parts of the India- Chattisgarh is worst affected by Naxal violence and together with Jharkhand accounted for 60% of total death due to Naxal violence. Of late they are also targeting economic targets more alarmingly. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Naxalite problem as ‘the single largest threat to India’.
The ‘Red Corridor’ runs through the dense forest and tribal belt, from Nepal through Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and all the way to Andhra Pradesh and to the upper reaches of Maharashtra, and some parts of Karnataka. It is alleged that they now have established partnership with terrorist groups based in Pakistan and they are also aided by the Maoists based in Nepal after Nepalese have been successful in installing Maoist government in Nepal, from Bangladesh and most of all from China, which is supplying them money, sophisticated arms and modern gadgetries. Occasionally top Maoist leaders are reported to have been sneaked to these neighboring countries too. Inside their corridor, the Naxalites run a parallel government and vow to continue their fight against the state—a full-fledged war they call ‘people’s struggle’. All the Left-wing militant organisations, including the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) and the People’s War Group (PWG), after their merger are now operating under the flagship rebel party—CPI (Maoist).The Central intelligence reports have also issued a warning that the Maoists are now in the process of identifying ‘new operational areas’ across the country. They are keenly looking at industrial belts, where big corporate houses are planning to set up the Special Economic Zones (SEZs), an easy target to launch violent agitation. CPI (Maoist) Politburo and Central Committee talk about the need to run a secret service and unleash psychological wars through effective networking of various friendly groups in the urban areas. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Naxalite movement was immensely popular. There were reports of brilliant students, including from IITs, dropping out of college to join the struggle for the rights of the tribals and landless labourers. Over the years, as the principles diluted, Naxalite movement saw much of its membership waning away. Nevertheless, it has an endless supply of men and women, victims of State apathy to their condition joining its ranks, which shows that many still believe in the cause.There are many so called intellectual sympathizers too to their dastardly acts of violence. But one thing has to be remembered that once this sympathy for violent naxalism starts, it has no end and now it has come to the situation when the Naxals have started killing the same intellectuals. The so called intellectuals must remember that instigating or abetting violence under any circumstances is a double edged sword. Post 26/11 world has realised this menace and violence of any form, killing of women and children and innocent people is totally condemned world over, even if it is for just means. According to a confidential report of the military intelligence, India’s 231 districts in 13 States, including three in the NCR, are now being targeted by the Maoists to achieve their ultimate aim—seize power in Delhi by 2050. So far, it is believed that about 170 districts falling under the dreaded ‘Red Corridor’, also known as the Dandekaran Belt, are reeling under the Maoist terror. In Chhattisgarh, Bastar’s dense jungles are considered to be the Maoists’ centre of gravity. In southern Bastar, the Maoists have declared the Chintainer area as their Dandekaran State’s capital.
Mr Chidambaram in interview recently with CNN-IBN Chief Rajdeep Sardesai mentioned an important fact that the Naxal problem aggravated during last 10 years. I remember when I completed my MBA from Patna, Bihar by 1994 end, there was no problem as such in Bihar-Jharkhand. But suddenly when I used to go to Jharkhand after 4 years or so, by 1998, I frequently found bandhs there. Earlier Jharkhand (then South Bihar) used to be very peaceful place where there were booming activity both in terms of industrial as well as market; and Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Dhanbad were crowning glory or combined Bihar state and later on separate Jharkhand state. But somewhere down the line something worse had happened along those years and after gaining literacy and awareness that had taken place in these areas, thanks to the good work done by missionaries in these areas, the tribals began to realize that they have been taken for a ride for all along these 40-50 years or so and the fruits of economic activities which were carried in these areas which was primarily for their upliftment was being siphoned off to other places, their land and forests were slowly gobbled up by the outsiders, minerals being excavated both by PSUs and private miners in collusion with corrupt leaders, leaving them with just with pollution-air, water and food- poverty, illiteracy, bad infrastructure, etc. Naxalism, MCC, had taken firm root and was starting to play havoc and by the 1990s, they had formed a parallel government even issuing diktats to the tribals of the region At later stages and even in the present situation, Naxals now manage to take hostage entire village; railway stations are also bombed; even the election machinery is not working. I remember my father who is now a retired professor was given election duty during the general and elections used to shiver on hearing that he would be sent on election duly to Jamshedpur or Chaibasa or those intense jungle areas where the rule of the Naxals run riot and no rule of law was there. Policemen cannot enter those areas, traffic is standstill once the evening sets in, no doctors or social workers or government officials can manage to enter these areas. One must also remember that the passengers traveling by trains all over India are in greatest danger today because of this. Trains run across densest of forests in India and most of them arre Naxal affected. If we dont take strong steps today, someday I fear a whole train may be kidnapped and the state will not be able to do anything. Only some happless GRP cant do much. The problem is most acute during the night. These worst fears came true when recently Bhubaneshwar-Rajdhani train was stopped by Naxals in Midnapore, WB. Fortunately no damage was done it everything is passed off peacefully without loss of life.
So what is the solution then? Recently I watched a very thoughtful discussion on Naxal problem and solutions in DD News Channel. Very thought provoking and objective and it gave a gist of what can be done to contain and solve the menace. (Other channels should learn how to conduct meaningful debate and discussion in a quite way as it is done in DD News channel.). Many facts came to be known and also some history behind it and attempts made earlier by the governments in solving the problem.
The first rebellion against the Naxalites was the 'Jan Jagran Abhiyan', started by veteran congress leader Mahendra Karma in 1991; this later collapsed, leading to large scale killings of tribals by Naxalites. Mahendra Karma, the tribal leader was a minister in Ajit Jogi’s Congress Government in Chattisgarh. In 2005, he organised the Salwa Judum movement against Naxalites (initially Salwa Judum movement was anti-Naxalite people’s movement against the atrocities of the Maoists inflicted on the tribals and later on Mahendra Karma jumped into the fray). The initiative was praised by the BJP Chief Minister Raman Singh and the government supported it and provided them protection. A few years later the state government adopted the Salwa Judum model in order to fight the Naxals and over the years trained a number of SPOs or 'Special Police Officers', from amongst the tribals, who are part of Salwa Judum in the state and witnessed a marked rise in success against Naxalite action. However the Salwa Judum movement was later discredited by Human rights activists citing examples of burning houses, extortion, excesses against women, employing minors and large scale displacement of the civilian population caught in the conflict between the Naxalites and Salwa Judum activists with at least 100,000 people moving to various camps in southern Chhattisgarh or fleeing to neighbouring Andhra Pradesh as of early 2008. However by mid-2008, movement's frontliner, Mahender Karma announced that it will soon cease to exist and end 2008, saw Salwa Judum having lost its earlier momentum was only restricted to its 23 camps in the Dantewada and Bijapur districts of Chhattisgarh The government has defended the Salwa Judum movement and refrained from discrediting it, despite pressure from it Left allies, as setting up Village Defence Committees (VDCs), has been a tested model of police-civilian co-operation in conflict area such as Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast, and dacoit-infested areas of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and UP.
Bandopadhyay Committee: In May 2006, the Planning Commission appointed an expert committee headed by D. Bandopadhyay, a retired IAS officer instrumental in dealing with the Naxalites in West Bengal in the 1970s. The expert committee has underscored the social, political, economic and cultural discrimination faced by the SCs/STs across the country as a key factor in drawing large number of discontented people towards the Naxalites. The committee established the lack of empowerment of local communities as the main reason for the spread of the Naxal movement. The report holds the faulty system of land acquisition and a non-existent Relief and Rehabilitation policy largely responsible for the support enjoyed by the Naxalites. On the other hand, the committee makes a forceful plea for a policy and legal framework to enable small and marginal farmers to lease-in land with secure rights while landless poor occupying government land should not be treated as encroachers. For the first time in the history of the Naxal movement, a government appointed committee has put the blame on the State for the growth of the movement. Providing statistics of 125 districts from the Naxal-affected States, the committee finds out that the state bureaucracy has pitiably failed in delivering good governance in these areas. The report recommends rigorous training for the police force, not only on humane tactics of controlling rural violence but also on the constitutional obligation of the State for the protection of fundamental rights. Making a departure from the usual government position, the expert committee concludes that development paradigm pursued since independence has aggravated the prevailing discontent among the marginalized sections of society. Citing democratic principles, the report also argues for the right to protest and discovers that unrest is often the only thing that actually puts pressure on the government to make things work and for the government to live up to its own promises. Dealing with Naxalism needs a holistic approach with development initiatives as an integral part of the security approach. Security here must be understood in its broader perspective, which includes human development in its scope, because human security is an inseparable component of any human development formula, and vice versa.
Perhaps, not many have heard of Bandhopadhyaya committe report which was submitted its report years back. The problem is that as usual governments organise the high powered committees to study the problem and recommend solutions, but when it comes to implementation never bothers to see the report. One thing which comes out clearly in the discussion on Naxal problem is that there should be three pronged strategy now to solve the problem First, it should be the strict use of force in intensely crime affected areas to finish out the Naxals. Secondly intensely carry out development work in the areas affected by Naxalism. And Thirdly bring the Naxals to negotiating table and genuinely find the solution and implement them. The main thrust should be to implement all the three pronged attacks honestly and swiftly without wasting time, otherwise it will be too late .There has to be rule of law, people have to be come in contact with government officials, their problems should be listened and honestly resolved There future also needs to be taken care of in terms of employment, because all these areas are under dense forests and rich in minerals Some day or the other government will definitely reach out to these areas for mineral excavation then some bigger resentment will take place. This is the thought for all of us. We must remember that if Punjab militants and Kashmiri militants can be made to sit across the table then why not Naxals? We have to be optimistic Remember, many dreaded dacoits from dense forests of MP laid down their arms and they are all leading normal life - Phoolan Devi was MP!
