Experts warn government of increased Maoist activities before elections

Ahead of upcoming elections, experts on Saturday warned the government of increased Maoist activities in the east.

Reportedly, hotbed areas of Maoist activities like Gaya, Nawada, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Arwal and Sasaram- which share their borders with eastern Jharkhand- are on the hitlist of Maoists who have through posters send clear messages of disrupting the upcoming polls.

"Before the previous parliamentary elections also, the Maoists have launched what is known as TCOC (tactical counter offensive campaign) and during the electoral period the security forces are spread thinly because they are on election duty also, so they become easy targets and when the Maoists launch a TCOC, the objective is to bleed the state wide, decrease the morale of the security forces and a general sense that they are enjoying an upper hand,"said P V Ramana, research fellow at Institute For Defence Studies And Analysis (IDSA) on Maoists.

State government agencies have been organising campaigns to ensure that voters turnout in huge numbers to participate in the election procedure.

But politicians, too, who have been actively campaigning, are on the hit list of the red rebels.

"Ahead of elections politicians become easy prey because they move around freely in the villages canvassing and are therefore easy to get targeted," said Ramana.

"The government has always held that two way approach- security and development. Both these measures need to be pursued more vigorously with a sense of purpose. Development work should be implemented with all sincerity, they should be rigorously monitored and strength of the security personnel, police forces and central police armed forces has to be strengthened," Ramana added.