- As you are aware, one of the most long-standing internal security conundrums to have afflicted India must be the never-ending Naxalist ideology that has been a constant for several decades.That’s till now. The successive Union Governments and the state governments greatly affected by the Naxal menace have diligently gone about mitigating the menace, adopting several measures to not only curb the influence of Naxalites but also offer them an opportunity to seamlessly merge into the mainstream society. In doing so, innumerable lives of the security personnel as well as Naxalites have been lost while battling among themselves, apart from humongous resources, including precious money/manpower, have been spent on the matter so far.
PC: Frontline – The Hindu
- Due to the concerted efforts of the paramilitary and anti-Naxal forces, admirably backed by the governments, it appears to have finally yielded decisive results in rooting out the very ideology from the Indian landscape at last. As reported extensively over the years, the Maoists have been weakened by the collective efforts of the anti-Naxal forces operating in tandem. Thus, the latest killing of top Maoist commander Madvi Hidma will only further weaken the ideology. However, for total victory, addressing tribal grievances and rehabilitating surrendered cadres assumes paramount importance. Hidma’s killing in the security forces encounter marks yet another success in the GOI’s ongoing drive to eliminate left-wing extremism by March next year.
PC: India Today
- For the uninitiated, Hidma was the head of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army Battalion No. 1, and was said to be responsible for multiple attacks on security forces and state targets, including the 2010 Dantewada attack in which 76 CRPF personnel were killed. Hidma’s elimination, therefore, will further weaken the Maoist armed insurgency. However, two points need to be recognized here. First, it’s true that due to relentless security pressure this year, at least 1,225 Maoists have surrendered, more than 270 have been eliminated in security operations, and upwards of 680 have been arrested. This also appears to have bred disunity with the Maoist leadership. Addressing the root causes of left-wing extremism must be prioritized.
PC: Moneycontrol
- Dispossession of land and marginalization of tribal populations must be duly addressed. Tribal populations are denied their forest rights claims, are forcibly evicted, and development projects are sanctioned in their areas without Gram Sabha approvals. These issues must be addressed to achieve total victory over left-wing extremists who feed on these grievances. Second, armed Maoists may truly be defeated next year. But the ideology that sustains their movement may evolve and take other forms. GOI and security agencies must be alert to this. Of course, expanded state welfare has dented recruitment for ultras. But this is not a permanent solution. Helping Maoists return to normal life is key to ending the insurgency once and for all.
