Maoists seeking to forge alliance with NE secessionists

Indicating a new security challenge, the CPI(Maoist) has been trying to forge alliance with secessionist and terrorist elements, Home Minister P Chidambaram said today.

Inaugurating a three-day conference of Directors General and Inspectors General of police organised by Intelligence Bureau, he said the move of the Maoists has been taken in a bid to expand their network and influence.

"It has been keenly seeking ideological resonance and tactical understanding with the Northeast insurgents and has begun to lend support to their secessionist ideology and demands," he said.

The Home Minister said Left wing extremism purports to be a radical form of communism and today, various groups adhering to this outdated ideology have their pockets of influence in 20 states across the country.

"Over 2,000 police station areas in 223 districts in these states are partially or substantially affected by the menace," he said.

Chidambaram said violence, the most visible aspect of naxal menace, has been consistently witnessed in about 200 police station areas of around 90 districts in 13 states of these states.

"Last year, a total of 1,591 incidents of naxalite violence resulting in 721 killings were reported from 299 police station areas of 87 districts of 13 states," the Home Minister said adding this year 1,405 incidents of naxal violence resulting in 580 killings have already been reported (up to August 27) from 355 police stations in 78 districts in 11 states.

He said CPI(Maoist) has also improved upon its military wares and operational tactics.

Besides targeting the police, alleged police informers and so-called class enemies, it is laying greater emphasis on attacking economic and development infrastructure such as roads, bridges, railways, power and telecommunication networks, he said.

"With increasing sophistication in fabrication and deployment of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), it has inflicted more casualties on the security forces," he said.

As many as 80 security personnel were killed in 53 landmine-based attacks by the CPI(Maoists) in 2008, 123 security personnel have lost their lives so far in 61 landmine-based Maoist actions this year.

Altogether, 231 security personnel were killed in naxal violence in 2008 while 250 security personnel have lost their lives this year, he said.