Maoists remind govt of their threat with attack

Incidence of violence had declined after arrests of top leaders of CPI (Maoist)

The killing of 10 commandos of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Monday in Bihar has once again sent a grim reminder to the security forces that though the number of Maoists has depleted over the years in the country, they still have the capability and resources to cause extensive damage.

The elite CoBRA commandos fell victim to 22 improved explosive devices (IEDs) while trying to ambush around 200 armed Maoists. These Maoists were already engaged with a different team of security personnel in the jungles of Bihar’s Aurangabad district, and three of them are said to have been neutralised in the encounter.

“The casualties happened because of the incessant firing and IED blasts,” said Additional Director General (Headquarters) Sunil Kumar, “The encounter started Monday afternoon in Dumari Nala area, when the security forces were out on a search operation. They were fired upon and in retaliatory firing several ultras were killed. However, soon the commandos were got trapped in a heavily mined area. Several IED blasts amidst incessant firing led to fatal injuries to the commandos,” Kumar added.

“The area lies between two hillocks and is very difficult to reach. It also falls in the communication shadow, making it difficult for personnel to communicate. Reinforcements were sent as soon as we got word, but we had to take precautions to prevent further casualties,” said Kumar. The reinforcements took eight hours to arrive. While eight commandos were killed on the spot, two succumbed to their injuries later. Five injured security personnel were being treated at Patna and Gaya.

This was the first major setback suffered by the CoBRA battalion since its inception in 2008.

Officials in the security establishment said the attack was carried out by Santosh Yadav, commander of Bihar-Jharkhand committee of Maoists. Yadav’s group operates in the bordering districts of Bihar and Jharkhand. Yadav is leant to have escaped.

In the past five years, violence related to Left-Wing Extremists has declined following the arrest and killing of many members of the CPI (Maoist) politburo. From 2,213 incidents in 2010 that resulted in 1,005 deaths, the numbers came down to 1,088 incidents resulting in 226 deaths. In Bihar, the number of incidents reduced from 307 in 2010 to 109 in 2015. The number of deaths was 97 in 2010, which stood at 17 in 2015.  

“The remaining 10 per cent [of Maoists] are capable of launching an attack. The loss will not impede security operations against them,” said K Vijay Kumar, former CRPF chief. He is currently advisor to the Union home ministry on internal security. “There is an urgent need to improve governance and policing at the local level,” Kumar told Business Standard.

Ajai Sahni, executive director of the Institute for Conflict Management in New Delhi, said though there has been a tactical retreat of Maoist in the country, they are striking wherever they can.

In New Delhi the Union home minister and Prime Minister condemned the attack. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed grief and announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to the families of those killed. Besides, dependents will also get Rs 20 lakh as insurance money.