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Naxalite-Maoist insurgency
Map showing the districts where the Naxalite movement is active (2007)
Date 1967– present Location Red Corridor Result Conflict ongoing. Belligerents India [1]
Commanders and leaders Gen. V K Singh, Chief of Army Staff
ACM P V Naik, Chief of the Air Staff
Vikram Srivastava, Dir. Gen. CRPF
Strength 1,414,000 1,800,000 in reserve [2]
10,000 to 20,000 and "hundreds of thousands" of supporters. (2010)[3][4][5] Casualties and losses Since 2002: 1,601 killed Since 2002: 1,686 killed 6,000+ killed overall[6] (1980-2000[7])
564 killed overall (2001)[8]
Since 2002: 4,193 civilians killed
Ranipotili – Balimela – Rajnandgaon – Green Hunt – Silda – Dantewada (1st) - Dantewada (2nd) - Narayanpur
North-East India - Naxalite-Maoist - Jammu and Kashmir
The Naxalite-Maoist insurgency is an ongoing conflict[9] between Maoist groups, known as Naxalites or Naxals, and the Indian government.[10]
The insurgency started as a peasant rebellion in the eastern Indian village of Naxalbari in 1967 and has currently spread to a large swath in the central and eastern parts of the country referred to as the "Red Corridor"[11]. In 2006 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called the Naxalites "The single biggest internal security challenge ever faced by our country."[10] In 2009, he said the country was "losing the battle against Maoist rebels".[12]
Naxalites claim to be supported by the poorest rural populations, especially Dalits and Adivasis.[13] 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[14] and follow a strategy of rural rebellion similar to that of the protracted People's War against the government.[15]
The Indian government's Home Secretary G K Pillai has said that he recognises that there are legitimate grievances regarding local people's access to forest land and produce and the distribution of benefits from mining and hydro power developments[16], but claims that the Naxalites' long-term goal is to establish an Indian Marxist state. The Home Secretary stated that the government had decided to tackle the Naxalites head-on, and take back much of the lost areas.
Contents
[edit] Naxalite
Main articles: Naxalite and Communist Party of India (Maoist)Naxalites are a group of far-left radical communists, supportive of Maoist political sentiment and ideology. Their origin can be traced to the splitting in 1967 of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), leading to the formation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist). Initially the movement had its centre in West Bengal. In recent years, it has spread into less developed areas of rural central and eastern India, such as Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh through the activities of underground groups like the Communist Party of India (Maoist).[17] As of 2009, Naxalites are active across approximately 220 districts in twenty states of India[18] accounting for about 40 percent of India's geographical area,[19] They are especially concentrated in an area known as the "Red Corridor", where they control 92,000 square kilometers.[19]
[edit] Region affected
See also: Red corridorThe Naxalites claim to operate in 182 districts in India, mainly in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal.[12] The area affected by Naxalism stretches from the border with Nepal to Karnataka in the South (2006).[9] In West Bengal areas west of Howrah are affected by the insurgency.[20] Chhattisgarh is the epicentre of the conflict (2007).[21]
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 groups who cite the accumulation of unaccounted for wealth in the hands of CPI-M leaders and specific failure to counter problems they were elected to address such as caste discrimination and poverty.[22]
There is a correlation between areas with extensive coal resources and impact of the insurgency.[23] Naxalites conduct detailed socio-economic surveys before starting operations in a target area.[9]
In Chhattisgarh, the militia group Salwa Judum (which the BBC alleges is supported by the state government[24], an allegation rejected by the state[25][26]) was constituted in response to Naxalite activities, and has come under fire from pro-Maoist activist groups[27] for "atrocities and abuse against women"[28], employing child soldiers[29][30], and looting and destruction of property.[28]These allegations were rejected by a fact finding commission of the National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC), appointed by the Supreme Court of India, who determined that the Salwa Judum was a spontaneous reaction by tribals against Maoist atrocities perpetrated against them[31][32].
In Bihar, the Ranvir Sena, a caste-supremacist paramilitary of the upper-caste landlords and proscribed terrorist organisation by the Indian government, has been known to kill Dalit civilians in retaliation for Naxalite activity.[33]
Similar paramilitary groups have emerged in Andhra Pradesh during the last decade. Some of these groups are Fear Vikas, Green Tigers, Nalladandu, Red Tigers, Tirumala Tigers, Palnadu Tigers, Kakatiya Cobras, Narsa Cobras, Nallamalla Nallatrachu (Cobras) and Kranthi Sena. Civil liberties activists were murdered by the Nayeem gang in 1998 and 2000.[34]. On 24 August 2005, members of the Narsi Cobras killed an individual rights activist and schoolteacher in Mahbubnagar district.[35][36]
[edit] History
Main article: Timeline of the Naxalite-Maoist insurgencyThe Naxalite movement started when a militant section of CPI(M) led by Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal attacked the police on 25 May 1967 in Naxalbari village in North Bengal after a farmer was killed over a land dispute. The same year the Naxalites organised the All India Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries (AICCCR), and later broke away from CPI(M).[37] In the 2000s there were peace talks with the state government of Andhra Pradesh.[10]
[edit] 2002
The People's War Group (PWG) intensified its attacks against politicians, police officers, and land and business owners in response to a July ban imposed on the group by the Andhra Pradesh government. The government responded by tightening security, allegedly ordering attacks on suspected PWG members by state police and the "Green Tigers". Police forces continued to enjoy virtual impunity for the torture and killing of PWG rebels during police encounters. The Maoist Communist Center rebels intensified their armed campaign against Indian security forces following the killing of their leader by police in December.
[edit] 2003
The conflict in Andhra Pradesh intensified as Naxalite rebel groups, in particular the PWG, continued guerrilla attacks on police and government targets while the security forces stepped up counter-insurgency efforts. An October assassination attempt on Chief Minister Naidu was consistent with the PWG’s practice of targeting government officials to draw attention to their cause.
[edit] 2004
Sporadic, low-intensity fighting between the PWG and government forces continued for most of the year. Attacks on police and TDP party officials, believed to be carried out by the PWG, accounted for most major incidents and deaths. A three-month cease-fire, announced in late June, led to failed negotiations between the government and the PWG. A few days into the cease-fire, an attack attributed to the PWG placed the cease-fire in jeopardy.
[edit] 2005
Violent clashes between Maoist rebels and state security forces and paramilitary groups increased following the breakdown of peace talks between the PWG and the state government of Andhra Pradesh. Rebels continued to employ a wide-range of low-intensity guerrilla tactics against government institutions, officials, security forces and paramilitary groups. For the first time in recent years, Maoist rebels launched two large scale attacks against urban government targets. Fighting was reported in 12 states covering most of south, central and north India with the exception of India’s northeast and northwest.
[edit] 2006
Maoist attacks continued, primarily on government and police targets. Civilians were also affected in landmine attacks affecting railway cars and truck convoys. Clashes between state police and rebels also resulted in deaths of members of both parties, and civilians that were caught in the crossfire. Fighting differs from state to state, depending on security and police force responses. In the state of Andhra Pradesh, security forces have been somewhat successful in maintaining control and combating Maoist rebels. The other state that is most affected, Chhattisgarh, has seen an increase in violence between Maoist rebels and villagers who are supported by the government.
[edit] 2007
Fighting continued between Naxalite Maoists and government security forces throughout the year. The majority of hostilities took place in Chhattisgarh, which turned especially deadly when over 400 Naxalites attacked a Chhattisgarh police station, seizing arms and killing dozens. Civilians are now wedged between joining the Maoist insurgence or supporting the Salwa Judum and face coercion from both sides.
In November 2007 reports emerged that anti-SEZ (Special Economic Zone) movements such as the Bhoomi Uchched Pratirodh Committee in Nandigram in West Bengal, which arose after the land appropriation and human displacement following the SEZ Act of 2005, have joined forces with the Naxalites since February to keep the police out.[38] Recently, police found weapons belonging to Maoists near Nandigram.
[edit] 2008
Civilians were most affected in the ongoing fighting between Maoist rebels and government security forces. Of the 16 states touched by this conflict, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand were the most affected. One positive note for Chhattisgarh was that fatalities, although still high, were significantly down from 2007. Similarly, Andhra Pradesh, the state with the most Maoist activity a few years ago, has improved security with a corresponding drop in fatality rates. Unfortunately, as conditions have improved in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, the Maoist forces seem to have shifted their operations to the state of Orissa where conditions have worsened.
[edit] 2009
In September 2009 India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh admitted that the Maoists had growing appeal among a large section of Indian society, including tribal communities, the rural poor as well as sections of the intelligentsia and the youth. He added that "Dealing with left-wing extremism requires a nuanced strategy - a holistic approach. It cannot be treated simply as a law and order problem." In the first half of 2009, 56 Maoist attacks have been reported.[12]
[edit] 2010
In February 2010 24 paramilitary personnel of the Eastern Frontier Rifles were killed in the Silda camp attack, an operation the guerillas stated was the beginning of "Operation Peace Hunt", the Maoist answer to the government "Operation Green Hunt" that was recently launched against them.[39]
On 6 April 2010, Naxalite rebels killed 76 Indian soldiers and wounded 50 in a series of attacks on security convoys in Dantewada district in the central Indian state of Chattisgarh.[40] The attack resulted in the biggest loss of life security forces have suffered since launching a large-scale offensive against the rebels.[40]
On 17 May 2010, a Naxalite landmine destroyed a bus in Dantewada district, killing up to 44 people including several Special Police Officers (SPOs) and civilians.[41]
On 28 May 2010 the derailment of a Kolkata–Mumbai night train killed at least 150 persons. Officials claim that Maoists are responsible for the sabotage which caused the disaster.[42]
On June 29 2010 At least 26 policemen are killed in a Maoist attack in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh.[43]
On August 29 A joint team of BSF and district police was attacked by the rebels in Bhuski village (Chhattisgarh) under Durg Kondal police station in the district while they were conducting routine search operations in the wee hours. Following the attack, the forces retaliated and in the action they lost five security personnel, including three BSF jawans.[44]
On August 29 and 30 2010, rebels ambushed a joint paramilitary-police team in Bihar, killing 10, wounding 10 more, took 4 prisoners and snatched more than 35 automatic rifles from the state forces.[45][46] The Naxalites later freed 3 of the policemen after Naxal leader Kishenji met with worried family members.[47]
[edit] Human toll
The first combat deaths of the insurgency were in 1980.[10] The highest number of incidents of violence has taken place in four worst-affected states—Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa—where 2,212 people lost their lives from January 2006 to August 2009.[37] Around 1,100 people are known to have died during 2009. The number includes 600 civilians, 300 security personnel and 200 rebels.[48]
There were more than 40,000 displaced people in 2006.[49]
According to the Institute of Peace and Conflict studies, Naxal groups have recruited children in different capacities and exposed them to injury and death. However the same accusation has been levelled at the state-sponsored Salwa Judum anti-Maoist group, and Special Police officers (SPOs) assisting the government security forces.[50]
[edit] Deaths related to violence
Period Civilians Security forces Insurgents Total per period 1989-2001 1,610 432 1,007 3,049[51] 2002 382 100 141 623[52] 2003 410 105 216 731[52] 2004 466 100 87 653[52] 2005 524 153 225 902[53] 2006 521 157 274 952[53] 2007 460 236 141 837[53] 2008 399 221 214[54] 834[55] 2009 586 317 217 1,120[56] 2010 445 212 171 828[57]
Sunday 12 September 2010
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