Chidambaram visits Maoist heartland

Ahead of the proposed massive counter-offensive against the Maoists in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, home minister P Chidambaram flew down to Raipur on Friday to firm up preparations and galvanise the security forces.

Part of the centre’s multi-pronged policy to combat the left ultras, the operation would involve nearly 20,000 specially trained security personnel drawn from the CRPF, the BSF and state police forces.

The personnel — there are 24 battalions in all— have been specially trained in jungle warfare by the Army to take on the Maoists operating from deep forests. The operation will be backed up Army and Air Force helicopters, which will be available for aerial surveillance, and ferrying and evacuation of troops.

Chidambaram’s visit underscores the seriousness of the Centre to take on the Maoists, who have now spread their violent activities to 12 states and have built strong pockets of influence in nearly 120 districts of the country.

This year, there has been an alarming spurt in incidents of Maoist violence with 915 cases reported between January and May. The highest number of incidents in recent years, 1608, was recorded in 2005 followed by 1597 in 2003; 1591 in 2008; and 1565 in 2007.

The state governments concerned were lackadaisical in their approach to the problem, till the Union Home ministry in consultation with the states decided to get cracking six months ago. The strategy got a final shape during the recently held chief ministers’ conference.

In Raipur, Chidambaram made an unscheduled visit with chief minister Raman Singh at the homes  of two policemen killed by Maoists — IPS officers Choubey and constable Sanjay Yadav.  He drove first to Choubey’s home and met his widow Ranjana Choubey.
From Choubey’s house he travelled to Tikrapara and met Lalita Yadav, widow of Sanjay Yadav.