Decline in Naxal attacks on key infrastructure properties since 2011: IB

Pressure from security forces and increasing awareness of people have resulted in the decline

Don't want to miss the best from Business Standard?

Maoist attacks on key infrastructure and government buildings, including schools, roads and culverts, hospitals and railway properties, have witnessed a sharp decline in the past few years in Naxal-hit Chhattisgarh, according to Intelligence Bureau (IB) statistics.

Between 2001 and April 2014, Left-wing extremists unleashed numerous attacks on government buildings and infrastructure in several pockets of the state particularly in the stronghold, Bastar, destroying 113 schools, 75 panchayats and cultural buildings, four hospitals and 119 roads and culverts, as per documents from the local IB.

Besides, 53 attacks were carried out on railway properties and 77 on depots and buildings of the forest department during this period, the documents said.

Majority of the Naxal attacks in the state since its formation in November 2000 have been on roads or culverts. As many as 22 forest roads and culverts were destroyed by Maoists in 2004, the highest till date.

But since 2011 till April this year, the attack figures have declined considerably with only two such structures destroyed in 2014; four in 2013 and 2012, and 10 in 2011.

Similarly, maximum attacks on school buildings were witnessed in 2006 during which 49 schools were damaged by the ultras. However, since 2011 till April this year only one school has been targeted by naxals, the document pointed.

Panchayat and cultural buildings also became soft targets for naxals in remote areas of Bastar.

The year 2002 saw the highest attacks on such premises with 40 panchayat offices and cultural buildings being targeted. But the past three-and-half years have seen only one such attack.

"There was some respite from Naxalites targeting key infrastructure in the past couple of years but they continue to pose a threat to development works in the Naxal-affected Bastar region," a senior state IB official told PTI.

Increasing pressure of security forces and growing awareness among people are significant factors resulting in the decline of attacks on infrastructures, he added.

Naxals usually do not target hospitals. Since their formation, the state witnessed only four attacks on medical and healthcare establishments -- one in 2007, two in 2008 and one in 2012.

The naxals attacked railway properties too -- 11 times in 2007 and 2011, the highest figures recorded since 2001.