Naxal activity will increase by end of monsoon

Security forces fear that the Naxal activity will increase by the end of the monsoon season, which had somewhat restricted the movement of ultras in the thickly forested areas.

Security forces fear that the Naxal activity will increase by the end of the monsoon season, which had somewhat restricted the movement of ultras in the thickly forested areas.

HT Image

Official sources said in states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa, where Naxals wield considerable fire power, movement of the security forces and the left-wing extremists had been restricted because of the monsoon.

Most of the areas have single roads, which were affected by heavy rains. The areas in interior parts were marooned in flood water and slush and hence, the movement of both security forces and Naxals were limited, they said.

But now that the monsoon season is nearing its end, the waterlogged areas will dry down making movement in the forests easier.

Sources said unlike earlier, the Naxals this time were active even if on a lower scale compared to pre-monsoon days.

Because of the monsoon, the green cover in the forests thicken which at times can be of help for camouflage while can be a perfect setting for laying ambushes.

Sources said the Naxals during the monsoon period go on a propaganda spree visiting various villagers and organising plays to allure more people into their cadre.

The period is also used by the Naxals to re-strategise and plan their next course of action.

The government had condemned the Naxal violence during the recent two-day bandh called by the left-wing extremists in six states terming them as "despicable" and "desperate acts".

"The Government of India condemns these despicable and desperate acts on the part of CPI (Maoist), and reassures its commitment to root out this menace in its entirety," an official statement had said.