The Maoists have claimed more than 2,100 live from 2005 to 2009. They are destroying the roads, railway lines, forests, telecommunication which has placed the natural and economic at risk in the areas. The Maoists have made mockery of the Indian political and judicial system in the jungle areas where they enjoy the supreme monopoly. If news are to be believed, the Maoists are also linked to leftist groups in neighbouring countries through the Coordination Committee of Maoist Parties and Organisations of South Asia (CCOMPOSA). It is also reported that the Maoists are getting all economic and ammunition help from the military camps of China and Pakistan. The Dantewada massacre has proved the growing strength of the Maoists.

Whereas the attack has shown the loopholes in the government counter operation system

Experts are now overflowing with counterinsurgency proposals ranging from police reforms to development schemes for the Naxal-affected areas. History suggests those plans might work, to an extent, over the short term. But a long-term solution is set to remain elusive. Andhra Pradesh was once the head centre of Maoists but through strategic developments, the state has become an icon for the other Maoists affected states in India. Only military operations like Green Hunt can’t solve this multifarious problem, it needs proper multi-pronged strategy to counter the violence and its root cause.

Lack of development:

The forest areas are the most neglected part of the country. They are deprived of all the monetary and economic helps of the government. The youth with no income becomes frustrated and fell easy prey of the Maoists. The tribal think that these Maoists would save them from the deprivation, so they register their names in the Maoists’ lists. To win the war against the Maoists it is essential to gain the trust of the tribal people, which is possible only with proper development in the areas.

Inadequate information

The most important cause for the failure of the police operations against the Maoists is the lack of proper information. It is not easy to gather information about the Naxalites in these areas. The Naxals have a terrorising influence over the locals. They themselves communicate in the local Gondi language and use traditional methods of communication which the security forces find difficult to decipher. Locals living in the interior areas would not dare to provide any information to the police because the only punishment, if caught, is death.

Military failure

Every year huge number of jawans are sent in the forest areas to fight the Maoists, but all in vain. The recent operations to combat Maoist violence (such as Operation Green Hunt launched in March 2010) have been largely unsuccessful as the security forces are not provided with adequate training and resources to fight the rebels. Their weapons, arms and ammunitions, as well their networks and structures of communication and intelligence gathering are inadequate to counter the Maoists. Whereas the Maoists are experts in handling both modern weapons like AK-47s, INSAS, rocket launchers and IEDs, and more traditional guns like .303s. When the situation demands, they are very adept at fighting with bows and arrows, axes or other sharp weapons.

Poor coordination

The poor coordination between local police, intelligence agencies and the paramilitary personnel in the region has further strengthened the force of the Maoists. Political differences between neighbouring state governments have thus further hampered the success of operations against the rebels. Last year home minister P Chidambaram declared a project of 800 million dollar for the development of the area. But where is the money? The deep-seated corruption, bureaucracy and political rivalry have failed the government to combat the threat. The politicians extort huge sum of money from the jungle areas by smuggling minerals and help the Maoists to fulfill their own selfish interests. So the politicians need to forget their own vote gaining diplomacy to work together to vandalise the red force.

India is hemorrhaging badly and may soon be in a coma, it is time to take some long term strategic planning. The time has finally come to use the military while allowing the paramilitary and police time to build up the required capability in terms of personnel, training and equipment.

To have sufficient capability to enforce law and order in the country, about 800,000 additional police personnel would be necessary. The army could be given adequate land in the most Naxal-infested areas to set up training centres, cantonments etc. The army’s presence would boost the confidence of the local people, paramilitary and police. Besides, the government also needs to work rapidly for the development of these long time deprived tribes. The right to food, potable water and employment is as important as the right to information and education. About 75 per cent of the subsidised food does not reach the poor. The country is sitting on a ticking bomb that needs to be defused or else a civil war may break down in India.