Maoist clean-up high on government list

With Maoists on the warpath across four states, the government is mulling to use the 'best-practices model' successfully used in Maoist stronghold states such as Andhra Pradesh and West Midnapore district of West Bengal to counter the ultra left radicals. Sanjib Kr Baruah reports.

With Maoists on the warpath across four states, the government is mulling to use the 'best-practices model' successfully used in Maoist stronghold states such as Andhra Pradesh and West Midnapore district of West Bengal to counter the ultra left radicals.

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"All the best practices that have paid dividends, operational or otherwise, in countering Maoists will be put into practice in all the 26 worst-affected districts of the country," a top official involved in countering Maoists told HT.

In Andhra Pradesh, once a stronghold of Maoists, incisive operations by 2,000 Greyhound commandos and a robust intelligence network providing actionable information resulted in forcing the ultra left radicals to shift base to the jungled tracts of neighbouring states.

"To kick-start the process, the police chiefs of all the 26 districts along with top officials of the CRPF and central paramilitary forces are being summoned for a brainstorming session in the home ministry by the month-end or first week of August," the official added.

This forceful thrust will be followed up with speedy developmental activity in the 'cleared' areas for which other ministries will also have to assume key roles. There has been considerable criticism of loss of crucial time in ushering development in the Saranda jungles of Jharkhand, which was once a key camping area for Maoists and was consequently cleared by the security forces.

A total of 106 districts have been declared Maoist-affected in the country. Official sources believe hardcore Maoist cadres number about 8,000.