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A grim reminder from the Naxals

Since 2010, there have been regular attacks on security forces and in last May, a convoy of 32 Congress leaders were blown to smithereens

When Maoists struck in a big way in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, only weeks before voting is to begin for the Lok Sabha elections, some may be misled into thinking that the Naxalites are signalling their resolve to derail the election in places where they have influence. To allow such a misreading is to turn one’s face away from the shortcomings the security forces deployed in the difficult jungle terrain labour under.

While the Maoists may well want to disrupt the polls, the attack at Tongpal in Sukma district, near the border with Bastar, cannot be considered to support the proposition. The element of surprise is a key ingredient of a successful military strike. Why would the Maoists want to lose that through an open advertisement of their aim before voting has begun? Besides, we should remember the Maoists did not disrupt the Assembly polls last December.
What’s germane is that our security forces in Chhattisgarh have long suffered from a pitiable lack of intelligence, and inadequate leadership. The repeated failure on the intelligence front is an indictment of the state government. It contributed to the killing by the Maoists of 11 CRPF jawans and four local policemen on Tuesday.

Since 2010, there have been regular attacks on security forces, taking a stiff toll of lives, in the same region. Last May, a convoy of 32 Congress leaders were blown to smithereens. Such a shocking episode should have galvanised the Raman Singh government into action, but few lessons have been learnt and the forces foray into the jungle blind in the absence of dependable intelligence, without knowing where danger lurks.

Intelligence must be gathered by the local police with the help of people living in the forest. It cannot be gathered by the CRPF units who are outsiders. The Chhattisgarh police brass need to be questioned about this, as well as their political masters. It is quite extraordinary that hundreds of ultras can gather without the local police discovering them. That this could happen over and over again is the sign of a deep-rooted malaise.

Apart from a deep failure of intelligence, it appears that time and again the forces deployed in the forests fall short on observing standard operating procedures, and drive about without changing route and taking other precautions. This is indicative of negligence on the part of the leadership of the forces. In this particular instance they couldn’t get their act together even though there was indication from the national headquarters that trouble should be anticipated. All in all, an unprepossessing state of affairs.

( Source : dc )
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