Naxalism in India
Naxalism is a form of armed insurgency against the State motivated by leftist/maoist ideologies and thus is also known as Left Wing extremism (LWE) or Maoism.
The Naxal insurgency in India originated in a 1967 uprising in Naxalbari, West Bengal by the Communist Party of India (Marxist). They are the group of people who believe in the political theory derived from the teachings of the Chinese political leader Mao Zedong.
The previous prime minister Manmohan Singh had said that Naxalism remains the biggest internal security challenge and it is imperative to control Left-wing extremism for the country’s growth.
Naxalism remains India’s biggest internal security threat:
- The Naxalites claim that they are following a strategy of rural rebellion similar to a protracted people’s war against the government. In long run they aim to replace the democratic state with so called people’s government using violent means.
- Wide geographical spread:
- The conflict is spread over the Eastern part of the country, particularly an area known as the Red Corridor spread across the states of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.
- Presently, 90 districts in 11 states in the country are considered LWE affected.
- Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand continue to account for 69.10% incidents of naxal violence across the country.
- Recently, Sukma encounter led to death of 22 personnel.
- Thrives of sense of alienation among the people:
- Naxal violence is related to the intensity of the feeling of people of their deprivation and their commitment to take revenge against those who are believed to be responsible for such denial.
- Currently, the main supporters of the movement are marginalised groups of India including Dalits and Adivasi’s, who believe they have been neglected by the government.
- The Naxalites claim to represent these most oppressed people in India, those who are often left untouched by India’s development and bypassed by the electoral process.
- The presence of Naxals in the country reveals the loopholes in the law and order of the country which has failed to curb the menace.
- Lack of a common plan across the states
- Lack of coordination between state police and Central forces.
- Inadequate training and combat capability of forces in Maoism affected states.
- Lack of institutionalized intelligence sharing between states and regions.
- Naxalites are well versed with terrain which gives them a substantial upper hand in armed struggle.
- It also reflect inability of political authority in India to provide avenues for structural uplift to the deprived sections of society and apathy towards tribals in the affected states.
- Entry of mining companies in Tribal lands and forests, posing threat to the livelihood of the tribals.
- Indigenous tribal population deprived of their lands, uprooted from their traditional source of livelihood.
- The benefits of the resource exploitation are not passed on the tribals.
- Lack of basic facilities like education, freedom, sanitation and food.
- Naxalism is also funded and supported by the external powers. Its continued existence highlights the existing loopholes in the border security.
The important Initiatives to root out naxalism from the country:
‘Police’ and ‘Public order’ being State subjects, the primary responsibility of meeting the challenge of Left Wing Extremism (LWE) lies with the State Governments. However, the MHA and other central ministries supplement the security efforts of the State Governments through various schemes such as:
- National Policy and Action Plan implemented by MHA since 2015 is a multi-pronged strategy in the areas of security, development, ensuring rights & entitlement of local communities etc. to combat LWE.
- Major Sub –Schemes under Scheme Modernization of Police Forces for 2017-21:
- Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme (approved in 2017): aims at strengthening the capacity of the LWE affected States to fight against the LWE problem in an effective manner.
- Special Central Assistance (SCA) for 30 most LWE affected districts to fill the critical gaps in Public infrastructure and Services,
- Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS) including construction of 250 Fortified Police Stations in LWE affected states.
- Assistance to Central Agencies for LWE management Scheme
- Civic Action Programme (CAP) to bridge the gaps between Security Forces and local people through personal interaction.
- Media Plan Scheme to counter the Maoist propaganda.
- Infrastructure development initiatives:
- Road Requirement Plan-I and II (RRP-I&II) is being implemented by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, for improving road connectivity in affected districts.
- LWE Mobile Tower Project and approval of Projects under Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) to improve mobile connectivity.
- The National Technical Research Organization (NTRO) is assisting the Security Forces in anti-Naxal operations by providing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
- Skill Development related Schemes:
- ROSHNI is a special initiative under, Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana which envisages training and placement of rural poor youth from affected districts.
- ITIs and Skill Development Centres have been established in LWE affected districts.
- Institutional measures:
- Black Panther combat force – A specialised anti-Naxal combat force for Chhattisgarh on the lines of Greyhounds unit in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
- Bastariya Batallion – A newly formed batallion of CRPF with tribal youth from four highly naxal infested districts of Chhattisgarh along with adequate female representation.
- Separate vertical in the NIA has been created for investigating cases.
- Multi-disciplinary groups to check funding of Naxalites – MHA has formed multi-disciplinary groups with officers from central agencies, including from the IB, NIA, CBI, ED and DRI, and state police to choke the financial flow to Maoists.
- Constructively engaging youth through education: Seeing the success of educational hub and a livelihood centre in Dantewada district, the government has now opened up livelihood centres, known as Livelihood Colleges, in all the districts.
- Operation Green Hunt: started in 2010 and massive deployment of security forces was done in the naxal-affected areas. From 223 districts that were affected due to naxalism in the year 2010, the number has come down to 90 in nine years.
- Aspirational Districts Programme: The Government’s approach is to deal with Left Wing Extremism in a holistic manner, in the areas of security, development, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities, improvement in governance and public perception management.
- Operation ‘SAMADHAN’ is the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)’s initiative to deal the Naxal problem. The acronym SAMADHAN stands for Smart leadership, Aggressive strategy, Motivation and training, Actionable intelligence, Dashboard Based KPIs (key performance indicators) and KRAs (key result areas), Harnessing technology, Action plan for each theater, and No access to financing.
- Technological interventions: The MHA has suggested the use of trackers for weapons, and bio-metrics in smart guns. Unique Identification number (UID) for Gelatine sticks and explosives. At least one UAV or Mini UAV is deployed for each of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) battalions deployed in the Maoist hotbed.
- Joint Task Forces for operations along inter-State boundaries to be set up. Better inter-state coordination and intelligence sharing.
- ‘National Policy and Action Plan to address Left Wing Extremism’, aimed at eliminating the menace in the shortest possible timeframe is in place.
- Other measures:
- More bank branches have been opened to ensure financial inclusion.
- All India Radio stations in Bastar broadcast regional programmes to increase entertainment options.
The two-pronged policy of proactive policing and holistic development is showing results and must be continued for significant results in the future. Counterinsurgency operation by the Centre and affected states have helped to bring down Maoist sponsored violence. Covid-19 pandemic and the national lockdown also proved a massive blow for Maoists, as it cut critical supplies for many months.
As a result, LWE related incidents were down by 47 per cent between 2015 and 2020 as compared to incidents in the preceding six years from 2009 to 2014.
Way forward:
- Learning from best practices: Grey hounds in Andhra Pradesh have been successful in minimising Maoists activities to a large extent. Similarly, as Chhattisgarh police have experience in tackling Maoists in Bastar, they are now coordinating with the bordering States to strengthen intelligence and ground presence.
- Eliminating the root cause of the problem that is leading to the alienation of tribals in this area. The focus should now be on building roads, increasing administrative and political access of the tribals, improving reach of government schemes, employment etc.
- Forest Rights: Effective implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Rights) Act, 2006.
- Financial empowerment: Introduce measures to encourage formation of ‘Self Help Groups’ (SHGs) to improve access to credit and marketing and empower the disadvantaged.
- Rehabilitation and resettlement: Mining grounds, irrigation areas, industries, etc., in the area without any provision for the resettlement of the displaced people has only added to the woes ofthe poor. There needs to be more emphasis on rehabilitation of these affected population
- Modernize law enforcement agencies: Central government must inroads into these disturbed states with their agencies well-equipped with modern artillery and assist the usually poorly-equipped agencies of the state.
- Leveraging the use of technology: Such as micro or mini-UAVs or small drones, high-resolution PTZ cameras, GPS tracking, hand-held thermal imaging, radar and satellite imaging to minimize loss of lives of security personnel. Also, technologies like trackers in weapons and biometrics in smart guns must be used, to check the use of looted arms by the militants.
- Choke funding: The nexus between illegal mining/forest contractors and transporters and extremists which provides the financial support for the extremist movement needs to be broken through establishment of special anti-extortion and anti-money laundering cell by State Police.
- Role of the media in building trust and awareness generation: Support of media must be taken in order to change the sympathetic attitude of people towards the Maoists, to dispel the fear created by the Naxalites in the minds of people and instil confidence among them that the State is by their side.
- Dialogue: Dialogues between the Naxal leaders, and the government officials can be a way work out a solution.The government should initiate sincere dialogue with Naxalites.
