Naxals News and GoI Operations Discussion

[EjazR]

IAF copters, ISRO images to be used in offensive against Naxals
The Hindu : News / National : IAF copters, ISRO images to be used in offensive against Naxals

The government will launch an offensive against the Naxals in various states later this year using IAF helicopters for movement of troops and satellite images to carry out surgical strikes.

As per plans, the operations would be led by the anti-Naxal force CoBRA in coordinations with state police and paramilitary forces CRPF, BSF and ITBP, a senior Home Ministry official said on Tuesday.

The highlight of the operations will be participation of the Indian Air Force (IAF) which will provide helicopters for the movement of troops.

Another unique feature will be the role of ISRO for providing satellite images and National Technical Research Organisation to fine-tune the strategies.

The personnel of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), who have already being stationed in various areas, are now focusing on spreading their intelligence network.

The intelligence wing of BSF, which has been roped in for the renewed fight against the Maoists, will also be used to “get specific intelligence for surgical strike.”

The official said the recent anti-Naxal operations carried out by the CoBRA personnel in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh cannot be regarded as the beginning of the centre’s strategy to take on Left-wing extremists who now control about 40,000 km area in the country.

“The real operation is yet to start. This (Dantewada operation) cannot be regarded as the first phase of what is being planned,” he said.

Ministry sources said the government is currently in the process of providing specialised training to selected securitymen to take on the Naxals which includes military-style training and setting up of ambushes.

Referring to the recent advertisements in national and regional dailies regarding the ‘cold blooded murderers’ carried out by Naxals, the sources said these were part of the new psychological warfare launched against the Maoists.

They said in Naxal-infested districts of various states, hoardings, banners and wall paintings will come up informing people about the evil designs of the Maoists. NGOs and street theatre groups will also be roped in for the purpose.

 

[EjazR]

Maoists suffer major blow in Chhattisgarh

KONTA (Chhattisgarh): About 30 naxalites and six police personnel, including two of sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) rank, were killed in a series of gun battles in the forest villages of the South Bastar region of Chhattisgarh since Thursday.

Police said the Communist Party of India (Maoist) received a major blow in the region as heavy casualties were inflicted on its cadres in two major attacks launched by security forces as part of “Operation Greenhunt” in Dantewada district.

Only seven of the bodies of the slain naxalites were traced and six of them brought from Kistaram to Konta for identification and post mortem, the police said.
Weapon-making unit

The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) — elite unit of the CRPF — deployed two days ago in the Karigundam area raided a weapon-making unit near Singanmadugu village on September 17. One naxalite was killed in the incident and his body recovered.

Twentyfour naxalites, two officers, one sub inspector, a head constable and two constables were killed in the gun battles that continued on Friday. The Maoists took away the bodies of the slain naxalites as the CoBRA unit jawans could not advance after its officers were killed.

The slain officers were identified as Manoranjan Singh from Manipur and Rajesh Kumar Chourasia from Uttar Pradesh. The other police personnel killed were Sushil Kumar Verma, sub inspector, Lalith Kumar, head constable, Manohar Lal and Uday Kumar both constables. Their bodies were airlifted to Raipur while reinforcements reached the heavily forested Karigundam pocket, following a decision to continue “Operation Greenhunt” for at least a week.

“The number of naxalites killed by the Cobra unit was 24. It could be even more but the bodies could not be recovered because of the difficult terrain,” a police officer said. Tribal leaders from Kistaram area were brought to Konta for identification of the six naxalites killed in the encounter at Palachelma. Four of them wore olive green uniform. The weapons recovered included one SLR, a 12-bore gun, four country weapons and four grenades.

Konta sub divisional police officer Ravi Kumar Khure said Koya commandos and the Chhattisgarh armed forces were deployed in Kistaram forests on a tip-off about a Maoist camp there. The Maoists planned to ambush the police party, but it was foiled. The Koya commandos who spearheaded the operation at Palachelma did a splendid job and there were no casualties on their side.

The Hindu : Front Page : Maoists suffer major blow in Chhattisgarh

 

[Spitfighter]

I'm happy that the GoI is taking the threat seriously. Much time has been wasted and they have a lot of ground to cover. The rebels have to be stamped out, but at the same time these are still our people, they must have some legitimate grievances for them to take up arms against the government. We can't win this fight with force alone, the GoI has to invest in the region, grant people their rights, give them justice.

The threat has to be tackled at multiple levels, I'm sure all of us here would like to know what the GoI is doing to enhance development in these areas.