Maoist Attack and insurgency in India

In one of the worst retaliatory attacks on the anti-naxal security forces in the last 15 years, Maoist insurgents blew up an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) killing 15 jawans and a civilian in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district on
Wednesday (1st of May) afternoon.

The insurgents have been targeting the ongoing Lok Sabha elections and had triggered as many as four IED blasts leading up to the polls on April 11, injuring six commandos of the Gadchiroli police.

The first-time successful use of a Remote Controlled Improvised Device (RCID) at a polling booth in the red zone was also a point of concern.

 

Maoist Insurgency in India

The 1967 Naxalbari uprising was a response to mainstream left party’s negligence to the issues of peasants and atrocities of zamindars on them. Charu Mazumdar led the movement demanding rights of the tenants on the land. Majumdar was captured and killed in police custody in Calcutta soon after Following Mao’s death and China’s abandonment of sponsoring international revolution, the movement broke down into factions. By some estimates, during the 1980s, as many 149 Naxalite parties functioned independently, with each claiming to be the true flag-bearers of the Naxalbari legacy.

 

 

 

Two major groups stuck to their guns: the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) in areas adjoining Nepal and the People’s War Group (PWG) in the areas that made up the princely state of Hyderabad (modern day Andhra Pradesh and Telangana).

The MCC and the PWG were the largest, most organized and best-armed. They maintained links with international groups like the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement (RIM) and Coordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organizations of South Asia (CCOMPOSA). In September 21, 2004 the two groups merged and formed the new Communist Party of India (Maoist).

 

Indian Governments response

LEFT WING EXTREMISM DIVISION was created in 2006 in the Ministry of home Affairs , to effectively address the Left Wing Extremist insurgency in a holistic manner.

 

Role And Functions Of The Division

• Capacity building of States to combat LWE though schemes of Ministry of Home Affairs like Security Related Expenditure (SRE) scheme, Special Infrastructure Scheme, Special Central Assistance etc.
• Deployment of Central Armed Police Forces(CAPFs) in LWE affected States.
• Providing funds to the CAPFs for strengthening of infrastructure/Helicopters/ civic action etc.
• Reviewing the security situation in the LWE affected States and issuing advisories to the State Governments concerned.
• Providing assistance to State Governments for initiatives to combat LWE in the form of funds for items of emergent nature.
• Coordinating implementation of LWE related Schemes of other Central Ministries for LWE affected Districts.

 

IMPORTANT INITIATIVES FOR LWE AFFECTED STATES

National Policy and Action Plan adopting three-pronged strategy:

1. Security.
2. Development.
3. Ensuring rights & entitlement of local communities.

 

Modernization of Police Forces for a period of 03 years i.e. from 2017-18 to 2019-20

Sub-schemes:

Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme

This Scheme is a sub-scheme of the Umbrella Scheme Modernization of Police Forces for a period of 03 years till 2020. Under the Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme, the central Govt. reimburses to the State Governments of 11 LWE affected States Security Related Expenditure of 90 districts relating to training and operational needs of security forces.

Special Central Assistance (SCA) for 30 most LWE affected districts

This Scheme has been approved by the Government on 27.09.2017 as a sub-scheme of the Umbrella Scheme, ‘Modernization of Police Forces’ for a period of 3 years i.e. from 2017-18 to 2019-20. The main objective
of the Scheme is to fill the critical gaps in Public infrastructure and Services.

Special Infrastructure Scheme, along with Construction of Fortified Police Stations in the LWE affected States

Scheme of Fortified Police stations

The Ministry had sanctioned 400 police stations in 10 LWE affected States. Of these 397 of PSs have been completed.

Assistance to Central Agencies for LWE management Scheme

Under the Scheme, assistance is provided to Central Agencies (CAPFs/IAF etc) for strengthening of infrastructure and hiring charges for Helicopters.

Civic Action Programme (CAP)

CAP in LWE affected areas is being implemented since 2010-11to bridge the gaps between Security Forces and local people through personal interaction and bring the human face of SFs before the local population.

Media Plan

The Maoists have been misguiding and luring the innocent tribals/ local population in LWE affected areas by their So-called poorfriendly revolution through petty incentives or by following their coercive strategy. Their false propaganda is targeted against the security forces and the democratic setup. Therefore, the Government is
implementing this Scheme in LWE affected areas. Under the scheme activities like Tribal Youth Exchange programmes organised by NYKS, radio jingles, documentaries, pamphlets etc. are being conducted.

Road Requirement Plan-I (RRP-I) for LWE affected areas

This Scheme is being implemented by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways for improving road connectivity in 34 LWE affected districts of 8 States i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.

Road Connectivity Project for LWE affected areas (RRP-II)

For further improving road connectivity in 44 districts of 9 LWE affected States. Ministry of Rural Development is the nodal Ministry for this project. The roads included under the scheme have been identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs in consultation with the State Governments and the security agencies.

LWE Mobile Tower Project

Aspirational District

The Ministry of Home Affairs has been tasked with the monitoring of Aspirational districts programme in 35 LWE affected districts.