Editorial: Red terror strikes again

Killing of jawans in Dantewada region is yet another stark reminder of Maoist deadly ability to strike at will

Hyderabad: The Merchant of Death, masquerading as the savior of the poor, is wandering around again. A landmine explosion in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh state killed 10 Jaws, in yet another grim reminder that Maoism, despite its eroding support base and disillusionment among its cadres, still has the power of arbitrariness. Lethal ability to attack. One of the more harrowing aspects of the attack was the way in which District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel were lured into a trap that all but let them do nothing. About 50kg of explosives are believed to have been placed 5-6 feet below the road, making them difficult to detect. A command-style improvised explosive device (IED) appeared to be used, meaning a Maoist cadre watched the road from a distance and triggered an explosion as the vehicle approached. It was the largest attack on the state’s security forces by the Maoists in the past two years – 22 security personnel were killed in an ambush on the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts in 2021. The latest attack has exposed gaps in security equipment and a stunning failure to follow well-established security protocols in a region notorious for such attacks in the past. Unlike other fragile states, Chhattisgarh has been slow to build a local anti-Maoist force, which is considered key to combating left-wing extremism. The timing of the attacks fit a familiar pattern in Maoist strategy, which calls for heightened military activity and more attacks on security forces each summer.

Despite an overall decline in Maoist attacks across the country of late, Chhattisgarh remains a center of left-wing extremism, with the miserable living conditions of the poor in the tribal-dominated and mineral-rich areas providing the perfect conditions. Maoists pursue the goal of seizing power at the barrel of a gun. Poor people are often caught in the crossfire. Experience has shown that accelerated development is itself an effective antidote to Naxalite violence. Countries that have successfully combined a comprehensive development agenda with effective intelligence gathering, police modernization, and coordinated anti-Maoist action have successfully curbed the spread of left-wing extremism. Unlike the Naxalite ideology of the 1970s, which was romanticized and won a large following in urban intellectual circles for its pro-poor presentation, today’s movement is largely rogue and organized by Criminal gangs that live off extortion, robbery and hit-and-run tactics. Most victims of Maoist violence are Dalits, tribals and backward classes. Only humane development and fair benefit distribution can prevent the rural plight from being exploited by the Maoists. Over the years, Nassar-infested countries have stepped up coordination with each other on intelligence gathering and specific on-the-ground operations to marginalize outlawed groups.