Just barely a year back on the banks of Indravati river in a courageous operation the C-60 commando force of Maharashtra police had eliminated 37 Maoists in an operation. Security experts believe that the recent Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast was a revenge from the Maoists in response to the above operation. Maharashtra may have achieved success in reducing Maoist activities in the last 10-15 years. However, Gondia district boasts of three active dalams or operational units whereas Gadchiroli boasts of ten dalams. Hence, experts emphasize the use of advance technology to avert such violent attacks.
In the last week in Gadchiroli, in Kurkheda taluka and Dadapur village, 26 heavy vehicles were burnt down when a road laying work was on. This incident was designed as a trap for the policemen. In Jambulkheda village which is located just 6 kilometer away from the location a landmine blast was engineered soon after. The police van passing from there and reaching Dadapur was being made a target. 15 policemen died in the attack and it was clearly established that the earlier blast was just a trap to allure policemen to arrive in the area so that they could be targeted. Maoists due design such traps often.
Police officers reveal that in Gondia currently Thanda, Dareksa and Kekedi also known as Kopar, Kenda and Devari dalams and in Gadchiroli a total of Tippagad, Kasansur, Gatta, Bhamragad and Permili and more dalams are operative. Earlier there was an active Maoist unit called Military Dalam.
Retired DGP, D Shivanandan who has worked in Maoist infested areas informed that the Maoist menace in the area has considerably reduced in the last few years. The C-60 police unit build with help and collaboration of the local youth has played a major role in it. However, the Maoists stay unnoticed for a long time and often seek revenge for an attack even after a year. The Gadhchiroli attack engineered on Maharashtra Day is also one of that kind. The Maoists hid the explosives below the bridge and exploded them as soon as the police van arrived. The state police have mine proof vehicles. However, the Maoists many a times make explosives that are capable of blowing up mine proof vehicles as well. This is the reason that police in order to camouflage their arrival took the help of a (non-mine proof) private vehicle and on knowing it's arrival targeted it.
The elections took place in the state smoothly without recording any violence. This was possible due to better roads even in remote areas.
Earlier the menace was spread to districts of Gadhchiroli, Chandrapur, Bhandara and Gondia. However, now it is only limited to Gadhchiroli and Gondia. Along with young police officers leading the activity and effective human resource, technological intervention is also the need of the day. On the lines of Andhra Pradesh's 'Grey Hounds', a trained force to deal with the menace of Maoists is formed, said Shivanandan.
The state police to fight the Maoists now have helicopters, drones, satellite phones and night vision goggles, said a senior official. In a dense forest in Maoist areas a helicopter is not really that useful. However, it can be used to evacuate an injured soldier in the wake of an ambush.
GETTING UPPER HAND
State police now have helicopters, drones, satellite phones to fight them
MAOIST ATTACKS
- Last week in Gadchiroli, in Kurkheda taluka and Dadapur village, 26 heavy vehicles were burnt down when a road laying work was on. In Jambulkheda village which is located just 6 kms away from location, a landmine blast was engineered soon after. The police van on its way to Dadapur was being made a target. 15 policemen died in the attack
- Gondia district boasts of three active dalams or operational units whereas Gadchiroli boasts of ten dalams.
- The state police to fight the Maoists now have helicopters, drones, satellite phones and night vision goggles
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