|
Naxals strike in Orissa : Inclusive approach needed to tackle the problem |
 |
B.I. Saini
The latest naxalite strike in Orissa shows that state police forces have not still woken up to the danger the Maoist elements pose and are yet to gear up to face the challenge from extremist groups. The naxalites, on the other hand, appear to be well trained and motivated, going by the way they carried
out the Nayagarh operation.
In a meticulously planned, almost surgical, strike, hundreds of armed Maoists simultaneously raided a number of police establishments, especially armouries to loot a large quantity of arms and ammunition, including sophisticated weapons, killing all those who came in their way. At last count, 15 people including 13 policemen died in the attack. Most of the naxalite raiders were able to make a getaway, only two being reported killed in combing operations launched much later by the security forces.
During their well planned and well executed strike, the naxalites virtually laid a siege to the district headquarters, blocking all four entry points to
Nayagarh town. The police personnel were caught off-guard and do not appear to have put up much of a resistance.
The Nayagarh incident and earlier Maoist strikes in neighbouring Chhatisgarh show that most State Governments have not yet woken up and heeded Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent warning that extremist violence poses the biggest security challenge to the Indian nation. Despite a spate of meetings at various levels, there is no sign of the Centre and the States concerned drawing up an effective strategy to tackle the naxal menace.
Chhatisgarh, of course, is the state worst affected by Maoist violence but Jharkhand and Bihar, and now it appears, Orissa also, are not far behind. The only state, which has beaten back the Maoists to an extent, is Andhra Pradesh. At one time, the state worst affected by naxalite violence, it is now relatively peaceful. But there also, the situation may worsen if the Telengana issue is not sorted out soon.
Both administrative and political issues need to be addressed to check the depredations of the naxalites, who have virtually established a corridor from the Nepal border upto the south, where only their writ runs. The Centre and the State Governments concerned, apart from gearing up security to tackle armed gangs, need to take speedy measures, economic and political, to improve the lot of the tribal and other people living in remote areas, so that they do not fall a prey to naxal propaganda. They need to be brought into
the mainstream if they are to develop a sense of participation in the Indian polity.
|
