Experts question lack of security during Chhattisgarh attack

Questioning the lack of security which they claim led to the attack on a Congress convoy in Chhattisgarh, security experts Sunday said targeting political leaders was a show of strength for the Maoists.

"A strong response to the attack is needed as targeting political leaders was a show of strength by the Maoists who are now ready to take on the government," P.K. Mishra, former additional director general of the Border Security Force (BSF), told IANS.

He said the government's Operation Green Hunt should be relaunched to clear the Maoist affected areas. "There would be civilian casualties in action but that would be in good faith," he added.

Mishra said that to control the Maoist menace, there should be political will. All states affected by Maoist violence should be on the same page with the central government.

"We need more intelligence inputs and helicopter operations," he said adding that "it should be probed how the security forces did not clear the road knowing that political leaders were to move from there".

"Ideology is missing among the Maoists. They have become criminals," he said.

The former top BSF official said the Maoists have changed tactics from kidnapping earlier to using IED to kill people now.

Ajay Kumar, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) MP from Jamshedpur and a former IPS officer, said: "This was a planned attack on politicians. I fear more of it may follow."

"We need to be aware of ground realities. Law and order is a small part of the problem, actually it is lack of development. States like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have been victims of crony capitalism. Corruption in the government has to be curbed," he said.

Kumar added that tribals are very sensitive to alienation with their land resources.

M.S. Bhatia, inspector general of police, Ranchi, told IANS: "Never has such an attack been carried out. The security establishment didn't anticipate it."

Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi said: "Maoists seem to be winning the war. When they attack the president of the principal opposition party, they are sending a message."

"We are not as organised as we claim to be. There has to be a security breach. It is an insurgency," she said.

Activist Swami Agnivesh demanded that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and Governor Shekhar Dutt be removed from their posts for their failure to provide security to the people of the state.

The social activist appealed to the Maoists to give up violence and join the national mainstream.

"I condemn the incident. I appeal to the Maoists to give up violence and join the national mainstream. Any change can be brought about only through democracy," Agnivesh told IANS.