Guys, Girls and all other people who think that terrorism from Pakistan is the biggest threat to the sovereignty of our nation – THINK AGAIN! Naxals or Maoists who are a group of far-left radical communists, supportive of Maoist political sentiment and ideology control approximately 220 districts in twenty states of India accounting for about 40 percent of India’s geographical area, They are especially concentrated in an area known as the “Red corridor”, where they control 92,000 square kilometers.
The rebels claim to operate in 182 districts in India, mainly in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal. The area affected by Naxalism stretches from the border with Nepal to Karnataka in the South (2006). In West Bengal areas west of Howrah are affected by the insurgency. Chhattisgarh is the epicentre of the conflict (2007).
Areas governed by the elected Communist Party of India (Marxist) in India such as West Bengal, specifically those of Jangalmahal and Lalgarh, are some of the worst affected by anti-state violence by Maoist terrorists who cite the accumulation of unaccounted wealth in hands of CPI-M leaders and specific failure to counter problems they were elected to address such as caste discrimination and poverty.
The Naxal insurgency started as a peasant rebellion in the eastern Indian village of Naxalbari in 1967 and has now spread to a large swath in the central and eastern parts of the country. In 2004 the Maoist rebel organisation People’s War Group and the Maoist Communist Centre of India merged to form the Communist Party of India (Maoist).
Naxalites claim to be supported by the poorest rural populations, especially Dalits and Adivasis. They encourage conversion of backward class Hindus to Christianity and have killed Hindus who resist Christian missionary activities. They have frequently targeted tribals, police and government workers in what they say is a fight for improved land rights and more jobs for neglected agricultural labourers and the poor and follow a strategy of rural rebellion similar to that of protracted people’s war against the government.
Many self defense forces like Fear Vikas, Green Tigers, Nalladandu, Red Tigers, Tirumala Tigers, Palnadu Tigers, Kakatiya Cobras, Narsa Cobras, Nallamalla Nallatrachu (Cobras) and Kranthi Sena have emerged in Andhra Pradesh over the decade. Salwa Judum which is pro – government and anti – Maoist was constituted after the Maoists unleashed a campaign of violence against the tribals of Chattisgarh. But as usual as things happen in our country, it had to be stopped due to a campaign by so called “HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS”.
There is a strong correlation between areas with extensive coal resources and impact of the insurgency. Naxalites conduct detailed socio-economic surveys before starting operations in a target area. If we see they target small towns, tehsils and villages where even the basic facilities are not provided. You wouldn’t even see a minister visiting anyone of these places. The guerilla warfare tactics which they have mastered over the years make them one of them most potent forces ever. There was a time when the government used to think that these people fight with bows and arrows but it’s not the same anymore by some distance. Due to this, they have easily managed to overpower the CRPF (Central Reserve Paramilitary Force) be it in Dantewada or in Silda or anywhere else.
The biggest problem of all which this fight faces is inefficient reporting by our media and lack of importance being given to it by our ministers. Until 1-2 years back, to tell you the truth, even I didn’t have any idea about this struggle. And to think of it, it has been on from the past 43 yrs! All our media concentrates on is the threat from the innumerable terrorist groups Pakistan supports or the nuclear deal with US and things like that. What about our internal security? Does anyone care? First and foremost, the government should work to stop the money and support these people are getting be it from politicians or outside the country and then comes other measures like Operation Green Hunt or talks. With the Naxals having arms and ammunition, they can do anything.
The Maoists have warned that they will soon attack cities. We are soon reaching a point where we may be forced to attack our own people like in Sri Lanka or Pakistan? Will we have to do that? Only time will tell!
THE BUCK DOESNT STOP BY MAKING STATEMENTS OF DOING THIS AND DOING THAT! ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS AS THE SAYING GOES!!!
mini
Well written :-). You have expressed urself very well on this issue. Yeah its true and its very sad tat th media and th ministers are bothered only abt terrorists groups outside th country. Absolutely no thought is given on internal terrorism . Its really pathetic. I hope tat our govt does something abt this and takes necessary action soon
Kalyan
Salwa Judum is a bad step taken by the Chhattisgarh govt. Putting killer weapons in the hands of civilians is never a good idea. It will only pitch one group of civilians against the other which is what happened in Chhattisgarh. Surprisingly, the Human Rights Activists are right in opposing this.
aseemrastogi2
yes u r right its wrong to give arms to civilians and ask them to defend and kill the enemies.. this was like Jan Jagran Abhiyan which was a peoples movement against maoists started 15 yrs ago…it shows the sense of desperation of the people as the government machinery has been really unable to do anything…i know its easy 2 blame the govt in all the cases but in such a scenario who else can v blame but them? and yes even in this scenario i feel the human rights organizations have reported a biased picture n not wat really happened!
amit
well written..
naxalism was a revolution started by opressed villagers because of our inefficient administrative system. since i am from jharkhand and have my root in one of such village , i have observed this movement grow and the inference is that the the needs of the villagers is not a communist state. this thought of communism (maoist) has been delibrately clubbed with their struggle by some intellectuals to spread communism in india. those intellectuals identified the needs of those villagers and presented the idea of communism (mao ideas)to look as if the whole idea is a solution to their regular problems of the villagers. the villagers could not distinguish between the agendas of communism and their own goals and hence they are now fighting for maoist state.
they should understand that the movement of naxalbari was itself started against a communist rule in west bengal.Communists have always been in power in west bengal.it is also very shocking to note that the maoism and naxalism brewed majorily in communist states like kerela and west bengal.they have their roots in there.
through this struggle, maoist show dis-satisfaction in the indian government and wants to overthrow them. They have great respect for their own mao leaders who are making them fight.if they have such a big faith in their leadership, why dont they elect him democratically. there are vast areas under their control. i dont feel that it would be a problem in such mao leaders to get elected in the general elections of India.Then why do they kill people and destroy resources, and halt the development process of our country. the idea behind all these things is to create a civil war inside this country and halt its development. it is clearly understood that this is an idea propagated by some intellectuals sitting in china, Nepal, Pakistan and some fools in west bengal and other parts of India.
they themselves dont have faith in their idea and know that if they enter the democratic process , there wont be any difference between CPI (left) and CPI (M).they just want to create disturbance in the country, that is why the have taken the village route, have destroyed schools to keep away education from village children,and they keep looking for excuses to show the villagers that the present democratic india does not care for them.
villagers are misguided, they should understand that if Indian government did not care for them, it would never have done development works, set up schools, created employment or done any development works for them. madam arundhati roy should also understand that it is the government who has tried to wooe the tribals, set up hospitals and schools for their development. there might be some atrocity incident or some unjustice, but such incidents occur evrywhere and it is because of the moral standards of some people holding high posts. government should not be held responsible, but such persons should be held responsible. Indian villages have their own rule through panchayti system, they make their own laws, then what for they need an outsider to give them arms to fight battles. they are already in majority and in power, then why dont they elect trustworthy leaders to represent themselves rather then picking up arms and destroying their family and kids future.
i would like to conclude by saying that mao thoughts and villagers struugle are two different things which has to be seperated. villagers have to think of a development process and come out of the mao beliefs and ideas. mao is a virus sent by the foreigners to destroy us.plz run an antivirus for it.
Anupam
Good job …very true picture presented on Naxalism .
The sad part of the the recently brutal slaughter by Naxals is that having lost 74 jawans the country ,media was contemplating whether resgnation offered by Home Minister should be accepted by the Prime Minister or not.
Rather than chalking out on some strategy to teach naxals a lesson and forbidding any such tragedy in future minister’s next move on was more important for coverage of daily news .
Will resignation from any of the minister bring back the jawans who lost their lives to this treacherous attack ?
As always from Mumbai attacks to Dantewada India is peacefully and democratically searching for mastermind of the attacks while the Indian Army continues to pay the price of peace talks!
Aisha Siddiqua
Aseem I agree with this :
“There is a strong correlation between areas with extensive coal resources and impact of the insurgency. Naxalites conduct detailed socio-economic surveys before starting operations in a target area. If we see they target small towns, tehsils and villages where even the basic facilities are not provided. You wouldn’t even see a minister visiting anyone of these places”.
I would like to add that Indian cities are progressing but the progression seems incomplete and artificial with problems like these. Why do the rich get richer and the poor always remains poor? I think the biggest problem is that these people have been ignored for YEARS , since independence. Every time they rebel then attention is given to them. It is not fair. I am not supporting these groups but I am saying there is always a way to get around terrorism. The best way would be to understand their demands and give them support. But like you said it is easy to say than do.
Anita
very informative. Didnt know many facts about naxals. Death of so many jawans is really very sad