Review Strategy To Tackle Left-Wing Extremism

Context: The Indian State has not been able to tackle the Maoist challenge fully for decades despite years of planning, schemes, funds and deployment of forces. There  is a need to review the strategy

Penetration of Naxalism in India

• Maoists have been trying to overthrow Indian democracy by violent means after the CPI decided to join electoral politics in 1951.
• Starting with Naxalbari in 1967, there have been many groups, by splits and mergers, finally forming the CPI (Maoist) in 2004 by the merger of PWG (People’s War Group) and MCCI (Maoist Communist Centre of India);
• At one time, they had a Red Corridor from Pashupatinath to Tirupati, covering many states.
• They are most active today in Bastar (Chhattisgarh) and Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), along with some activities in Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
• Their effective presence has come down from over 100 districts to about one-third now with depleted strength.

Challenges in dealing with Maoists:

• Difficult terrain: The tribal belts of affected states have dense forests and difficult terrain.
  • They take advantage of inter-state boundaries and move swiftly to the adjoining state by crossing over when under pressure in one state has been their operational strength and guerrilla warfare.
• Exploitation of tribals: By brainwashing them about the social and economic injustice meted out to them, lack of development, displacement from their land for government projects etc.
• Anti-development agenda: The Maoists also don’t allow development to occur either as they will lose their base.
• Illegal funding: For funding, they depend on extortion and aid.
• Intellectual support: They are also helped by urban Naxals and many sympathisers inside and outside the country.

Way Forward: A four-point strategy is suggested for consideration

• Strong political will: The will has been missing due to the very nature of our federal structure and rule of different political parties at the Centre and the states over the decades.
  • This was helpful in controlling situations in Punjab, Tripura and Andhra Pradesh.
• The state police forces must lead the operations: As only locals can tackle such a problem.
  • The state police should be bolstered by increasing its strength and providing full support to police stations.
  • An example is the BSF which was raised in 1965 after the war with Pakistan by merging state armed police battalions of border states, pending its recruitment to raise the force further.
  • Out of battalions, a few should be earmarked as ‘peace battalions’ by the states for providing security to the development projects in the areas.
  • Army’s help should be taken in training these battalions in counter-insurgency operations.
  • For inter-state coordination, the Centre should station a commander/coordinator in the region.
• Speed up the basic issues: Including socio-economic rights, the livelihood of the tribals and development projects.
• Fighting at the ideological front: Communism has a big appeal for the poor tribals, especially when it matches with the ground reality of there being haves and have-nots.
  • There are many organisations in the country that can contribute to reducing inequality.