Thursday, October 8, 2009
Operation Godavari to Flush out Maoists from Malkangiri and Three Million Mulnivasi Bengali Refugges of DANDAKARNYA Strnded in Cross Fire!Defence Ministry nod likely to arm pilots in Naxal ops!Let us shoot back at Naxals: IAF
Palash Biswas
The central forces after the completion of Operation Green Hunt have reached Malkangiri to launch 'Operation Godavari' to flush out the ultras from Orissa.While,the CPI (Maoist) has called a two-day shutdown in Jharkhand and Bihar from October 12 in protest against what it alleged the Centre's effort to put down its campaign using para-military forces.With Indian Air Force helicopters operating in Naxal-dominated areas coming under attack, IAF Chief P V Naik said on Wednesday that they had sought permission from the government to shoot back in self-defence if fired at by Maoist rebels.
IAF helicopters have come under attack several times by small arms fire recently, even leading to the death of a flight engineer last year. The force is increasingly getting involved in anti-Naxal operations, and has been detailed to evacuate casualties, fly in troops and conduct reconnaissance missions.
No less than THREE Millions of MULNIVASI East Bengal Partion victim Refugees of Scheduled caste roots ousted from the Geopolitcs of so much so hyped Bangla Nationality have RESTTLED in Five states Madhya Pradesh, Chhattish Garh, Maharashtra, Orissa and andhra Pradesh. They are STRANDED in CROSS Fire amidst Operation GODAVARI to flush out the Maoists!The fact remains that No question of giving up arms, says Maoist leader!The security set up of Government of India indulges itself in Intense REPRESSION of aboriginal and indigenous communities as an EXERCISE of ETHNIC Cleansing to ACOMPLISH India Inc agenda of MONOPOLISTIC Aggression to CAPTURE every piece of natural Resource causing EXODUS and DISPLACEMENT specilly in Dandakarnya.
Rather it semms me the INDIA INC and Brahaminical hegemony Projected Maoism to EVACUATE our People. just note the Contrdictions of the statements and stnces of CHIDAMBARAM and Mamata Banerjee. Maoists NEVER DO STRIKE against CORPORATE Interests in their Armed Insurrctions but creates OPPORTUNITIES for the RULING Hegemony for ZERO Tolerance aginst the Black Untouchables. it is happening in Lalgarh as well as everywhere known as MAOIST Dominated area. The MAOIST Menace coinciding with Neo Liberalism and Economic reforms EXPOSE the BRAHAMINICAL Alliance of State Power, Brahaminical Political Parties, India Incs, NGOs and so called Maoists!Thus,a prominent naxal leader today rejected Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's call to Maoists to abjure violence and take the path of democracy, saying there was no question of giving up arms.
Development to fight Naxalism: Rahul
Also on Wednesday, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, on a trip to Kerala, said the Naxalite menace was an offshoot of underdevelopment.
"These states (Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand) need to get development to the people. No one would join Naxalites if people were involved in development activities," he said.
Gandhi said the only difference between the rich and the poor was one of opportunities. "I don't consider whether a person is a Dalit or not. I approach him as a human being," he said when asked about his new-found love for Dalits in Uttar Pradesh.
Government on Wednesday said the Indian Air Force will take adequate counter-measures to protect its choppers and pilots from Naxal attacks.
"The IAF will take adequate counter-measures," Home Minister P Chidambaram said when asked about IAF seeking permission from the Defence Ministry to open fire at Naxals if its helicopters or air crew came under attack.
However, the Home Minister refused to reveal any details.
Chidambaram said an IAF helicopter was fired at by the Maoists a few weeks back in Chhattisgarh.
Air Chief Marshal P V Naik had said the IAF had sought permission from the Defence Ministry to open fire in self-defence if its helicopters or air crew operating in the Maoist-infested areas came under attack.
'Confronting naxal is no war'
A day after Naxals brutally killed intelligence office Francis Indwar in Jharkhand, Home Minister P Chidambaram said today that if Naxals would abjure violence, the government can talk to them.
"The government does not call confronting Naxals a war. We do not wage war against our own people," he said.
It is the Naxals who are holding up to armed struggle, he added.
He clarified that as Naxals claim to be working for poor, the government also is working for the poor people. He said, the government can work togehter with Naxals but for this they would have to leave violence.
The IAF on Thursday said it will deploy its commando units to defend its helicopters and men on board in Naxal-infested areas, but made it clear that they would not carry out any "rambo-style" operation against the Maoists.
IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik told reporters here that the Garud special forces would be present in the helicopters flying in Maoist-hit areas for rescue operations and would defend their personnel and equipment by warding-off attacks by Naxals on them.
"It is not a free for all like 'rambo' that we will go and fire in the countryside. The helicopters operating for casualty evacuation will be mounted with guns and the Garud force will man them," Naik said on the sidelines of the 77th Air Force Day parade here.
Asked about the IAF request to the government to allow opening of fire in self-defence, he said the Cabinet Committee on Security will decide the matter.
"I want to reiterate that I am totally against armed forces -- Army, Navy and Air Force -- being used in internal situations. We are meant to defend threats from across the border," he said.
Naik, however, said, "If the states requires any help we are always there to give it in terms of casualty evacuation and insertion (of security forces)."
Defence Minister A K Antony on Thursday said no decision has been taken so far on the Indian Air Force (IAF) request to fire at the Maoists in self defence.
However, if permission is granted, the IAF will mount guns manned by Garud, the IAF's special force, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik revealed.
"The defence ministry is studying the proposal and we will take the decision (soon)," Antony told reporters in New Delhi.
Earlier in the day, the IAF chief said his force was not contemplating a "Rambo style" offensive against the Maoists.
"The IAF's request for permission to fire in self defence did not mean an all-out 'armed offensive' against the people of India," said Naik on the sidelines of the Air Force Day parade at Hindon air base.
He said the IAF was only seeking to take measures to defend itself against the ground fire from Maoist guerrillas who are increasingly becoming aggressive.
"We have approached the government to fire in self defence to protect ourselves. It is not free for all where you go like Rambo and fire at everybody. There are laid down procedures. You have to ensure minimum use of force, minimum collateral damage, firing has to be permitted by the captain of the helicopter and so on," Naik told reporters.
IAF helicopters providing air support in non-offensive roles in Maoist affected areas have been fired at in the past. The IAF has carried out surveillance, reconnaissance and casualty evacuations during anti-Maoist operations.
On Nov 14 last year, the IAF lost an aircrew when Maoists fired at an Mi-8 helicopter in Pedia in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region.
"We are not indulging in armed offensive. We are trying to protect our men, women and crew who fly these machines," said Naik.
"In the helicopters going for anti-Naxal operations, the measures will be taken for self defence. The first being armour, then body armour for the crew, tactical manoeuvring and sanitisation of place before take off and landing by the local agencies," said Naik.
But when and if the permission is granted, the IAF will mount guns manned by Garud, the IAF's special force, the air chief disclosed.
Defending armed struggle, Kisenji leading the LALGARH Insurection in alliance with a section of Bengali Brahaminical Intelligentsia, Civil Society, Politicians and Media, told PTI over phone from an undisclosed location here, "There will be arms in the hands of the people's liberation army as long as the state uses arms to throttle the voice of the people."
On Chidambaram's contention that Maoists must eschew the path of violence and adopt democracy and dialogue, he said "the polit bureau of the CPI(Maoist) rejects the government's proposal to lay down arms and sit for talks."
He said "the state should stop killing its own people and only then we will lay down arms.
I am in live contact with Refugee leaders and social Activists all along every where in DANDAKARANY. I visited the Refugee Resettlements earlier in the year. I plan to go over there in November or December once again. My father has always been an ACTIVE member of the Greater Black Untouchable family since Indian HOLOCAUST, the Partion of india to ensure Power transfer to Brahmin bania CORPORATE Raj sustaining Manusmriti Rule.
Our people have been INFORMING me how the Maoists have the hold on the Jungle Area! They are always in touch with me and inform that the Security Forces have seized the Refugee Colonies all over Dandakaranya and using the SCheduled caste Humanscape as a HUMAN shield! I had noticed maoist activities during my last visit where we had not been allowed to slow our vehicle anywhere in the Forest area lest the maoist would treat us as foes and shoot down! I am told that the Maoists have bases right in the TOWNS of these FIVE States and use all the infrastructures including Schools and Panchayats. ARMLESS refugees may not oppose them while they are not allowed to do any thing and move any where after the DUSK.
One of our fellow was in mourning as his mother expired. The people gathered. Immediately the SECURITY forces seized entire area. It was a hard time to convince the officer that our people were in Mourning. When they were CONVINCED after all, they warned that the Bengali refugees won`t be allowed to perform Last rights in NIGHT! The Refugees are not allowed for Community Activities also.
Only around MALKANGIRI, the most troubled zone in dandakaranya, bengali refugees have been rehabilitated in Two Hundred and seventeen villages! PAKHANJORE in Kanker district of CHHATTISHGARH locates no less than Hundred and FIFTEEN villages! OMARKOT in Jgat Singh Pur district of ORRISSA has got about Hundred villages more.
Bengali refugees are resettled in the Maoist Dominated areas of CHANDRA PUR and GADCHIROLI in Maharashtra. ADILABAD subdivision of Andhra, specially KAGAZNAGAR has refugee colonies.
Rajnandgaon, Kanker and DANTEVBADA have REFUGEE colonies. A number of bengali refugees are employed in Balledilla. BASTAR has also got Refugee Colonies!
All these ares are MAOIST dominated and Neither the Maoists nor the SECURITY forces have any sympathy with our people.
Mind you, in 2001, bengali refugees in OMARKOT area had been SEIZED by the maoists who favoured the Tribal Politics which went against the BENGALIES following some very local Flare UP!
kalimela area in Malkangiri is a Bengali area already threatened by Polvoram Project is most effected by Maoism. The local bengali leaders requested the Secuity forces deployed under GODAVARI Operation to consider the helpless bengali refugees. Four of them were arrested immediately and they had to be bailed out from the court!
The CIRCUMSTANCES are quite EXPLOSIVE in Operation Godavari conditions. But the BENGALI hegemony, even those who scream against REPRESSION in LALGARH have NO SYPATHY for our people! You know about the ETHNIC Cleansing of Dandakaranya refugees in Marichjhanpi, Bengal, the FIRST GENOCIDE by the Marxist Gestapo. Three decades past, neither the BRAHAMINCAL Intelligentsia nor the CIVIL society which CAMPAIGN so hard for a Change, have not demanded JUSTICE for the VICTIMS till this date!
Now-days the rebel spreading Maoists are found to be in trouble. The tense arised from the operation started by the three consecutive governments; Orissa-Andhra started Operation Godavari and Chattishgar started Operation Garud. To make the operation worthless the Maoists started triggering land mines in different roads. Recently during the visit of Home Minister P. Chidambaram to Koraput debated and discussed how to eradicate the maoist action from these remote areas. Soon after about 70-80 platoons of BSF were deployed at the borders of Orissa, Andhra and Chattishgar to wash out red rebels in these areas. To make the action fruitful COBRA battalion and Police forces from theses three states joined hands. As the operation has speeded up in these Naxal-Hit areas, all the police stations of Un-divided Koraput is being high alerted and the border villages are frequently focused.
Rather it semms me the INDIA INC and Brahaminical hegemony Projected Maoism to EVACUATE our People. just note the Contrdictions of the statements and stnces of CHIDAMBARAM and Mamata Banerjee. Maoists NEVER DO STRIKE against CORPORATE Interests in their Armed Insurrctions but creates OPPORTUNITIES for the RULING Hegemony for ZERO Tolerance aginst the Black Untouchables. it is happening in Lalgarh as well as everywhere known as MAOIST Dominated area. The MAOIST Menace coinciding with Neo Liberalism and Economic reforms EXPOSE the BRAHAMINICAL Alliance of State Power, Brahaminical Political Parties, India Incs, NGOs and so called Maoists!Thus,a prominent naxal leader today rejected Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's call to Maoists to abjure violence and take the path of democracy, saying there was no question of giving up arms.
Development to fight Naxalism: Rahul
Also on Wednesday, AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, on a trip to Kerala, said the Naxalite menace was an offshoot of underdevelopment.
"These states (Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand) need to get development to the people. No one would join Naxalites if people were involved in development activities," he said.
Gandhi said the only difference between the rich and the poor was one of opportunities. "I don't consider whether a person is a Dalit or not. I approach him as a human being," he said when asked about his new-found love for Dalits in Uttar Pradesh.
Government on Wednesday said the Indian Air Force will take adequate counter-measures to protect its choppers and pilots from Naxal attacks.
"The IAF will take adequate counter-measures," Home Minister P Chidambaram said when asked about IAF seeking permission from the Defence Ministry to open fire at Naxals if its helicopters or air crew came under attack.
However, the Home Minister refused to reveal any details.
Chidambaram said an IAF helicopter was fired at by the Maoists a few weeks back in Chhattisgarh.
Air Chief Marshal P V Naik had said the IAF had sought permission from the Defence Ministry to open fire in self-defence if its helicopters or air crew operating in the Maoist-infested areas came under attack.
'Confronting naxal is no war'
A day after Naxals brutally killed intelligence office Francis Indwar in Jharkhand, Home Minister P Chidambaram said today that if Naxals would abjure violence, the government can talk to them.
"The government does not call confronting Naxals a war. We do not wage war against our own people," he said.
It is the Naxals who are holding up to armed struggle, he added.
He clarified that as Naxals claim to be working for poor, the government also is working for the poor people. He said, the government can work togehter with Naxals but for this they would have to leave violence.
The IAF on Thursday said it will deploy its commando units to defend its helicopters and men on board in Naxal-infested areas, but made it clear that they would not carry out any "rambo-style" operation against the Maoists.
IAF chief Air Chief Marshal P V Naik told reporters here that the Garud special forces would be present in the helicopters flying in Maoist-hit areas for rescue operations and would defend their personnel and equipment by warding-off attacks by Naxals on them.
"It is not a free for all like 'rambo' that we will go and fire in the countryside. The helicopters operating for casualty evacuation will be mounted with guns and the Garud force will man them," Naik said on the sidelines of the 77th Air Force Day parade here.
Asked about the IAF request to the government to allow opening of fire in self-defence, he said the Cabinet Committee on Security will decide the matter.
"I want to reiterate that I am totally against armed forces -- Army, Navy and Air Force -- being used in internal situations. We are meant to defend threats from across the border," he said.
Naik, however, said, "If the states requires any help we are always there to give it in terms of casualty evacuation and insertion (of security forces)."
Defence Minister A K Antony on Thursday said no decision has been taken so far on the Indian Air Force (IAF) request to fire at the Maoists in self defence.
However, if permission is granted, the IAF will mount guns manned by Garud, the IAF's special force, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik revealed.
"The defence ministry is studying the proposal and we will take the decision (soon)," Antony told reporters in New Delhi.
Earlier in the day, the IAF chief said his force was not contemplating a "Rambo style" offensive against the Maoists.
"The IAF's request for permission to fire in self defence did not mean an all-out 'armed offensive' against the people of India," said Naik on the sidelines of the Air Force Day parade at Hindon air base.
He said the IAF was only seeking to take measures to defend itself against the ground fire from Maoist guerrillas who are increasingly becoming aggressive.
"We have approached the government to fire in self defence to protect ourselves. It is not free for all where you go like Rambo and fire at everybody. There are laid down procedures. You have to ensure minimum use of force, minimum collateral damage, firing has to be permitted by the captain of the helicopter and so on," Naik told reporters.
IAF helicopters providing air support in non-offensive roles in Maoist affected areas have been fired at in the past. The IAF has carried out surveillance, reconnaissance and casualty evacuations during anti-Maoist operations.
On Nov 14 last year, the IAF lost an aircrew when Maoists fired at an Mi-8 helicopter in Pedia in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region.
"We are not indulging in armed offensive. We are trying to protect our men, women and crew who fly these machines," said Naik.
"In the helicopters going for anti-Naxal operations, the measures will be taken for self defence. The first being armour, then body armour for the crew, tactical manoeuvring and sanitisation of place before take off and landing by the local agencies," said Naik.
But when and if the permission is granted, the IAF will mount guns manned by Garud, the IAF's special force, the air chief disclosed.
Defending armed struggle, Kisenji leading the LALGARH Insurection in alliance with a section of Bengali Brahaminical Intelligentsia, Civil Society, Politicians and Media, told PTI over phone from an undisclosed location here, "There will be arms in the hands of the people's liberation army as long as the state uses arms to throttle the voice of the people."
On Chidambaram's contention that Maoists must eschew the path of violence and adopt democracy and dialogue, he said "the polit bureau of the CPI(Maoist) rejects the government's proposal to lay down arms and sit for talks."
He said "the state should stop killing its own people and only then we will lay down arms.
I am in live contact with Refugee leaders and social Activists all along every where in DANDAKARANY. I visited the Refugee Resettlements earlier in the year. I plan to go over there in November or December once again. My father has always been an ACTIVE member of the Greater Black Untouchable family since Indian HOLOCAUST, the Partion of india to ensure Power transfer to Brahmin bania CORPORATE Raj sustaining Manusmriti Rule.
Our people have been INFORMING me how the Maoists have the hold on the Jungle Area! They are always in touch with me and inform that the Security Forces have seized the Refugee Colonies all over Dandakaranya and using the SCheduled caste Humanscape as a HUMAN shield! I had noticed maoist activities during my last visit where we had not been allowed to slow our vehicle anywhere in the Forest area lest the maoist would treat us as foes and shoot down! I am told that the Maoists have bases right in the TOWNS of these FIVE States and use all the infrastructures including Schools and Panchayats. ARMLESS refugees may not oppose them while they are not allowed to do any thing and move any where after the DUSK.
One of our fellow was in mourning as his mother expired. The people gathered. Immediately the SECURITY forces seized entire area. It was a hard time to convince the officer that our people were in Mourning. When they were CONVINCED after all, they warned that the Bengali refugees won`t be allowed to perform Last rights in NIGHT! The Refugees are not allowed for Community Activities also.
Only around MALKANGIRI, the most troubled zone in dandakaranya, bengali refugees have been rehabilitated in Two Hundred and seventeen villages! PAKHANJORE in Kanker district of CHHATTISHGARH locates no less than Hundred and FIFTEEN villages! OMARKOT in Jgat Singh Pur district of ORRISSA has got about Hundred villages more.
Bengali refugees are resettled in the Maoist Dominated areas of CHANDRA PUR and GADCHIROLI in Maharashtra. ADILABAD subdivision of Andhra, specially KAGAZNAGAR has refugee colonies.
Rajnandgaon, Kanker and DANTEVBADA have REFUGEE colonies. A number of bengali refugees are employed in Balledilla. BASTAR has also got Refugee Colonies!
All these ares are MAOIST dominated and Neither the Maoists nor the SECURITY forces have any sympathy with our people.
Mind you, in 2001, bengali refugees in OMARKOT area had been SEIZED by the maoists who favoured the Tribal Politics which went against the BENGALIES following some very local Flare UP!
kalimela area in Malkangiri is a Bengali area already threatened by Polvoram Project is most effected by Maoism. The local bengali leaders requested the Secuity forces deployed under GODAVARI Operation to consider the helpless bengali refugees. Four of them were arrested immediately and they had to be bailed out from the court!
The CIRCUMSTANCES are quite EXPLOSIVE in Operation Godavari conditions. But the BENGALI hegemony, even those who scream against REPRESSION in LALGARH have NO SYPATHY for our people! You know about the ETHNIC Cleansing of Dandakaranya refugees in Marichjhanpi, Bengal, the FIRST GENOCIDE by the Marxist Gestapo. Three decades past, neither the BRAHAMINCAL Intelligentsia nor the CIVIL society which CAMPAIGN so hard for a Change, have not demanded JUSTICE for the VICTIMS till this date!
Now-days the rebel spreading Maoists are found to be in trouble. The tense arised from the operation started by the three consecutive governments; Orissa-Andhra started Operation Godavari and Chattishgar started Operation Garud. To make the operation worthless the Maoists started triggering land mines in different roads. Recently during the visit of Home Minister P. Chidambaram to Koraput debated and discussed how to eradicate the maoist action from these remote areas. Soon after about 70-80 platoons of BSF were deployed at the borders of Orissa, Andhra and Chattishgar to wash out red rebels in these areas. To make the action fruitful COBRA battalion and Police forces from theses three states joined hands. As the operation has speeded up in these Naxal-Hit areas, all the police stations of Un-divided Koraput is being high alerted and the border villages are frequently focused.
Air Chief Marshal Naik said they had now written to the Defence Ministry for permission to fire back at ground-based rebels in case its choppers come under attack. "It's a matter of grave concern as we have lost one air warrior because of unfriendly fire during a rescue operation," Naik said, talking ahead of Air Force Day celebrations on October 8.
However, Naik made it clear that the IAF is not currently planning any offensive operations against Naxals and ruled out the possibility of employing aircraft for attack missions or for bombing Naxal positions.
"Collateral damage is something we have to be very, very vary of. We would require 120 per cent intelligence. It may be noted that air attacks (by any nation) take place outside the country," Naik said.
Apart from seeking permission to fire back, the IAF is taking extra precautions like sending in armoured helicopters and clearing landing zones while operating in Naxal areas.
"We take all normal precautions first. The helicopters are, as far as possible, armoured and we are not sending in light choppers. The crew also wears body armour. Most importantly, we are ensuring 100 per cent sanitisation of particular areas where they land and take off," Naik said
The BANDH announcement was made through a press release by the spokesman of Bihar-Jharkhand-Orissa-Chhatisgarh Special Committee, Gopal.The banned outfit has also been observing a 'protest-week' from October 7 to 13, the release said.
On the other hand, aday after Jharkhand Special Branch Inspector Francis Induwar was beheaded by Naxalites, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram made it clear that security forces would continue to engage them till they laid down arms but said states could open a dialogue with Naxals on "issues of development, neglect, deprivation and composition of governance structures" if they gave up the path of violence. While, Defence Ministry nod likely to arm pilots in Naxal ops!
Gunship Helicopters as well as DRONA Missiles have to be used against the Aboriginal Indigenous People stranded in Rebel Belt, it is learnt. The Record is that Security Forces may not Trace the Maoists who know the Belt better and enjoy the support of the Deprived Local people. Any Retaliary Action thus automatically Kills only INNOCENT Helpless Armless People stranded in cross frie!
The Defence Ministry is all set to give the nod to the Indian Air Force's request to arm its pilots on heli-borne reconnaissance, transportation and medical evacuations in Naxal-hit areas with personal weapons and use them in event of fire from Left rebels for self-defence purposes but will not give permission to arm the choppers with heavy weapons or any offensive capabilities.
Meanwhile, the Centre on Thursday rushed additional paramilitary forces to Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, where 18 policemen were killed in an
"Additional (central) forces are in Maharashtra and they are already on way to assist the state police," Union Home Secretary G K Pillai told PTI.
A police team of 45 personnel was on a patrolling duty in the Laheri police station area of Gadchiroli district when about 150 naxals ambushed them killing 18 of them, including a sub-inspector.
While the South Block is still to take a formal decision on the Air Headquarters' request that was sent across just three days ago, top government sources told The Indian Express that it was not averse to the IAF using armoured Mi-17 and Mi-8 helicopters with pilots and accompanying loaders carrying INSAS or AK rifles for personal protection or self-defence in the Naxal-dominated territory. Except for the choppers operating on high-altitude missions, the IAF Mi-17s and Mi-8 have basic body armour to protect the pilot and the engine.
"We are a civilized country and these are our people we are confronting. Naxalites must take the path of democracy and dialogue, and abjure violence," Chidambaram said in Mumbai.
And in Thiruvananthapuram, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said "the inability of state governments and their developmental initiatives to reach the people" was "the main reason behind the growth of Naxal movements in certain states". He called for strengthening youth organisations to keep the young away from the influence of Naxalism.
However, the Defence Ministry is opposed to the use or mounting of heavy caliber weapons like rocket pods or machine guns on the IAF helicopters till the time the Air Headquarters is assigned any operational role in suppressing the Maoists. "The IAF role in the anti-Naxal operations is limited to causality evacuation or at best reconnaissance or troop deployment... The permission for the IAF to go on an offensive against Naxalites can only be approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security," said a senior official.
The Home Ministry, which is at the forefront of anti-Naxal operations by para-military forces, concurs with the Defence Ministry as it is against the use of excessive force or air power for internal security duties on account of collateral damage and brutal power projection. Despite understanding the magnitude of the Naxal problem, the North Block also sees this as a manifestation of the poor socio-economic development in the area.
The CPI (Maoist) had claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and beheading o Jharkhand Special Branch Inspector Francis Induwar whose mortal remains were laid to rest yesterday.
Meanwhile, former chief minister Babulal Marandi's Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantric) will observe a statewide bandh on October 10 against alleged inaction over its charter of demands submitted before the Governor a couple of months ago.
On the same day the JMM is scheduled to hold a rally in the state capital Ranchi.
Operation Godavari to flush out Maoists from Malkangiri!After completing the Operation Green Hunt against the Maoists in Chattisgarh the central forces have reached Malkangiri to launch 'Operation Godavari' to flush out the ultras from Orissa.
According to the sources already Central forces have set up base camps in two places in the Maoist citadel to go after the guerillas, who have spread a reign of terror in the district sharing borders with Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh. It was apprehended that after Operation Green Hunt the guerillas might sneak into the Malkangiri district.
Sources said locals are pinning high hopes on Operation Godavari as the Red brigade dominates large swathes of territory and the writ of rebels is unchallenged in most of the districts. People hope that the Central forces would tame the rampaging guerillas.
Meanwhile,in one of the bloodiest attacks by armed naxalites, 17 policemen were killed when a police station was attacked in Gadhiroli district of Maharashtra Thursday evening. The incident took place in a forest region where the police station is located.
On the other hand,A combined team of the elite anti-Naxal force, the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA) and the Chhat-tisgarh police killed around 30 Maoist rebels on Friday in Dantewada district, about 450 km south of state capital Raipur.
Five policemen, including an assistant commandant with COBRA, Manoranjan Singh, were also believed to have been killed. Officially, however, the police confirmed only eight Maoist deaths and that of the assistant commandant.
The much hyped Operation Godavari is nothing but a smoke without fire.
Media is agog with the report of Operation Godavari, which will be taken up in Maoist infested districts of Malkangiri to start with.
And according to media central forces has already arrived and soon they will sanitize the area.
"It is a smoke and without fire", said a top official in the Government of Orissa.
Media is spinning the story and publicizing it again and again to gain currency, said he.
While no central forces has arrived in orissa, how come we start the operations?, asked the top cop.
According to him this is nothing but a 'joke' and it appears to be handiwork of some lazy scribes, who wants to make news out of nothing.
Central Government is yet to locate the CRPF personnel for anti-Maoist operations, revealed he.
He said that movement and mobilization of nearly 7000 personnel will take at least a month.
So in absence of any forces, how can we start operations?
Both print and visual media houses are running stories on Operation Godavari for last few days and officials in the Department of Home are clueless about it.
Recently taking the delay in deploying central forces into consideration, Chief Minister sent a missive to P Chidambaram to depute at least 7 battalions of forces to the state for anti-Maoist operations.
Centre is finding it difficult to deploy CRPF as the paramilitary forces are yet to retrieved from Jammu & Kashmir , said sources.
So they are thinking to deploy BSF for the time being, said an official in MHA.
However it will take some time and after the deployment sanitizing the Red Zone can be planned, admitted the top cop.
Signalling a tough mood in government in the wake of Red ultras beheading Jharkhand cop Francis Induwar, home minister P
Chidambaram on Wednesday delivered an ultimatum to Maoists that they would face the might of the security forces unless they gave up armed struggle.
Chidambaram on Wednesday delivered an ultimatum to Maoists that they would face the might of the security forces unless they gave up armed struggle.
Speaking in Mumbai, the minister did not mince words as he said, "As long as the CPI (Maoists) believes in armed liberation struggle, we have no option but to ask our security forces to engage them...we will arrest them, we will apprehend them." Keen to indicate its resolve, the Cabinet Committee on Security on Thursday is likely to clear an air force request to be allowed to return fire during anti-naxal operations.
The public revulsion over the killing of Francis Induwar and the reactions of the officer's bereaved family have given the government an opportunity to argue that Maoists were cold-blooded killers and not "people's warriors" looking to settle scores with an oppressive state. Wanting to ride a mood that favours action against the Red ultras, the government is preparing the ground for an all-out operation.
Chidambaram said the IAF will take counter-measures necessary to protect their choppers and pilots. In last month's major anti-naxal operation in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada, a chopper that had been deployed to airlift injured and dead personnel had come under fire. Though no damage was reported, it highlighted the risk being run by chopper crews in densely forested areas which are Red zones.
The change in government's approach which has seen it launch a hard-hitting campaign showing how ordinary, poor persons were often victims of Naxal violence rather than the "class enemy" the extremists spoke of, is quite a shift from when UPA-1 took office. At the time, the government was more prepared to go by the "grassroots" viewpoint that disenchantment with the state was leading to Maoist violence.
The experience of waiting for Andhra Pradesh naxals to come to the negotiating table proved counter-productive. Not only did they recoup, they were successful in relaying mines and coordinating with groups in other states. Now, the view that the development argument will not get off the ground unless Red zones are "liberated" is finding greater resonance even as officials agree that government needed to address the needs of people urgently.
Chidambaram took note of the need to push development in areas inhabited by tribals and small farmers who have often been ruthlessly exploited by local officials, traders and contractors. "Developmental issues, issues of neglect, deprivation, corruption and government structure can be discussed. We can bring the very development they claim to be fighting for," he said. While he did not categorise the anti-Naxal campaign as "war" saying the government would not wage war on its own people, he clearly said the theory of armed struggle was unacceptable.
Officials also point out that stepped up operations against Naxals, expected to get underway after assembly polls in Maharashtra and Haryana, could hardly be delayed any further. Not only had Naxals consolidated their hold in their base areas, they were now clearly marking a presence in states like Uttrakhand and looking to form cells in cities where they looked to infiltrate labour conflicts. After the Dantewada operation, it was even likely that the ultras could strike in areas outside their zones to boost morale and keep central forces on the backfoot.
Security agencies — paramilitary forces and state police — are now fully geared up to fight Maoists. A plan to deploy nearly 70,000 paramilitary personnel — drawn from CRPF, ITBP, BSF, SSB and CoBRA — has been chalked out for the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Bihar, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.
"Although the operations against the ultras continue in these states, it will be stepped up once polls in Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh are over. Nearly 25,000 of the central forces will be spared by the end of the month, giving us more manpower for operations," said a senior home ministry official.
The plan is to confront ultras simultaneously in all states through joint operations with a focus on two tri-junctions like Bihar-West Bengal-Orissa and Chhattisgarh-Orissa-Andhra Pradesh so that the Maoists do not slip over from one state to other.
The intended operations will be different from earlier ones as the security forces will look to stay on in areas cleared of Naxals till the civil administration fully takes over. As forces have been doing in Lalgarh (West Bengal) since June, they will fight the ultras and remain in naxal-affected zones until local police takes charge.
Even for the poll duties — guarding polling stations, poll materials and poll personnel — in Maharashtra, the Centre has deployed those 4,000 personnel in three affected districts — Gadchiroli, Gondia and Chandrapur — who are well trained in anti-naxal operations.
"They have been asked not only to do area domination before the polls but also to conduct operations on the basis of local intelligence before and after the election on October 13. Huge deployment will give them space to engage the forces in operations even during the polls, if needed," said the official.
As many as 18,000 of the total 25,000 paramilitary personnel on poll duties are being deployed in Maharashtra alone with 4,000 being placed in three naxal-affected districts there.
"It is difficult to give the exact figure. But the casualties among Maoists are much higher than we initially believed," said T J Longkumer, Inspector General of Police, Bastar region, within which Dantewada falls.
"It is difficult to give the exact figure. But the casualties among Maoists are much higher than we initially believed," said T J Longkumer, Inspector General of Police, Bastar region, within which Dantewada falls.
On Thursday, the force, comprising around 650 policemen, found and destroyed an arms manufacturing base of the Maoists as part of its Operation Red Hunt in Palachalma forests near the state's border with Andhra Pradesh.
On its way back on Friday, the team found and attacked another Maoist base. Two helicopters were used in the four-hour-long encounter.
Special Director General of the CRPF, Vijay Raman, chosen to lead the big anti-Maoist offensive, Operation Godavari, in Orissa, south Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, also arrived here to direct operations.
Operation Godavari follows Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's admission in different forums that Maoists were the "gravest internal security threat" the country is facing. He even admitted on Tuesday that the government had not had much success in tackling them.
The Maoists, active in around 180 of India's 610 districts across seven states, have killed about 10,500 people in eight years.
According to preliminary reports, about 300 heavily armed naxalites surrounded the police station and opened fire. In the three-hour gun battle that followed, 17 policemen were killed. Sources said that one of them could be a police officer. There is no confirmation of casualties from the naxal side.
The police station is located deep in the forest region and in a highly hostile region, sources said.
The incident comes soon after Maoists beheaded a policeman in Jharkhand a couple of days back and a day after Home Minister P Chidambaram issued a stern warning to the naxalites.
Orissa police have beefed up security to prevent Maoists sneaking into the State, following combing operations being carried out in neighbouring States.
According to senior officials, high vigilance is being maintained in the wake of ongoing operations in neighbouring areas of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
The security forces there have intensified patrolling in the border area including Malkangiri district, which is only 40 kms away from the area where operation Green Hunt is being conducted.
"The encounter in Chhattisgarh is 30-40- kilometres away from our border. Though there is little chance of the Maoists crossing over, but nevertheless we are vigilant," said Satya Brat Bhoi, Superintendent of Police in Malkangiri.
A combing operation called 'Green Hunt' has been launched in Chhattisgarh, while a similar operation called 'Operation Godavari' is being carried out in Andhra Pradesh.
Andhra Pradesh police activity creates tension in Orissa's Narayanpatna!
The recent pasting of wall posters by A.P police in Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon blocks of Koraput district against the Narayanpatna Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangha (CMAS) leaders has created much tension in the area.According to reports,the Vizanagram Poice has pasted posters in both Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon areas warning the CAMS Secretary Nachika Linga and Wadeka Singana & Ramu Padi for not enter inside the A.P boundary.
Media reports has also confirmed pasting of posters by Vizanagaram Police.Describing the A.P police's activity as quite illegal and interference in Orissa's affair,the CMAS Secretary Nachika Linga told to this reporter over phone from an unknown place today,that the A.P police has no right to paste posters in the Orissa territory.The CMAS will organizing a massive rally at Narayanpatna on Friday to protest such activity of the A.P police, Linga said. The A.P govt is targeting the CMAS leaders vindictively as the tribal leaders are opposing the proposed A.P government's Jenjabati Dam bordering Orissa.Once the dam is constructed 12 villages in Narayanpatna and Bandhugaon Bloks will be submerged,Linga said.The posters pasted by Vizanagaram police has evoked much criticism across the Koraput district.Talking to this reporter,Koraput Bar Association President Nihar Ranjan Pattnaik said the A.P police has got no right to paste posters in the Orissa territory. Describing the incident as most unfortunate and illegal,Pattnaik said the activity of A.P police will lead to tension in the area.In another incident, the CMAS led by Nachika Linga recently distributed more than 2000 acres of cultivable lands among the landless which was seized by CMAS few months back.The CMAS distributed the land as a part of its "land to landless" programme. The anti-liquor campaign has become successful in the area and not a single drop of liquor is now available in the area,Linga added.
Storage of important reservoirs in the country
Central Water Commission (CWC) under Ministry of Water Resources is monitoring storage position of 81 important reservoirs spread all over the country, of which as many as 36 reservoirs are having significant hydro-power benefits with installed capacities of more than 60 MW each. The combined live storage in these 81 reservoirs at the beginning of monsoon i.e. 1.06.2009 was 11 % of their designed capacity and stood at 59% of the designed capacity as on 24th July 2009. The present storage is 80% of last year's storage and 89% of last 10 years average storage during the same period. Out of these 81 reservoirs there are presently 31 reservoirs where this year's storage is 80 % or less than the average of previous 10 years and in remaining 50 reservoirs the storage is more than 80 % of the average of previous 10 years.
In order to derive the best possible benefits from the available water, Central Water Commission is keeping in touch with the Department of Agriculture and Co-operation and providing information of the weekly storage position to the Crop Weather Watch Group for evolving suitable crop strategies and also appraising the situation to various Departments and Ministries involved in Water Resources Planning.
Basin wise storage position as on 24.09.09 is as follows:
The storage position in Narmada, Mahi, Sabarmati, Krishna, Cauvery and East Flowing Rivers (EFRs) and West Flowing Rivers (WFRs) of South basins are better than average of previous 10 years. Mahanadi and Neighboring East Flowing Rivers, Rivers of Kutch and Tapi basins are flowing close to normal and Ganga, Indus, Godavari, are flowing deficient.
Naxals gun down 18 policemen, one police informer beheaded
Times of India - 1 hour ago
GADCHIROLI (Maharashtra): Naxals on Thursday struck with impunity killing 18 policemen when they ambushed a police patrol in dense forests in this district ignoring stern warnings by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram asking them to give up violence or ...
Naxal attack raises security concern over poll in Gadchiroli
Daily News & Analysis - 1 hour ago
PTI Mumbai: The killing of 18 policemen by naxals in Gadchiroli region in Maharashtra , five days ahead of state assembly elections, has raised a question mark over security arrangements during polling in the naxal-hit region. Poll campaign in Armori, ...
Maoists 'kill 17 Indian police'
BBC News - 2 hours ago
At least 17 policemen including a top commander have been killed in a battle with Maoist insurgents in the Indian state of Maharashtra, officials say. They said the fighting started after a group of Maoists attacked a police station in Gadchiroli ...
"I would like to say frankly that we have not achieved as much success as we would have liked in containing this menace," he told state police chiefs in September. "It is a matter of concern that despite our efforts, the level of violence in the affected states continues to rise."
more by Manmohan Singh - 33 minutes ago - CNN International (61 occurrences)
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Naxal attacks in India timeline
Zee News - 1 hour ago
Oct 8, 2009 : Seventeen policemen killed in an ambush by Maoists at Laheri police station in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. Sep 30: Naxalites set ablaze Gram Panchayat offices at Korchi and Belgaon in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. ...
Shootout leaves 17 police dead in India
CNN International - 33 minutes ago
NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- At least 17 police officers were killed in what Indian authorities say was a shootout with Maoists Thursday. The shootout occurred in a forest in the western state of Maharashtra, said Srihari Munde, a police official in the ...
17 policemen killed in Naxal attack in Gadchiroli
IBNLive.com - 3 hours ago
New Delhi: At least 17 policemen have been killed in a Naxal attack in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district on Thursday. Nearly 100 armed Naxals attacked a police station about a kilometer from Lahiri village police station on Thursday afternoon at around...
Naxals kill 17 cops, behead infomer in Maharashtra
Zee News - 3 hours ago
Nagpur: At least 17 policemen were killed in Gadchiroli on Thursday when two hundred Naxals swooped down on a police post in the Lahiri area of Bhamragadh taluka in the district. The dead include one sub-inspector CS Deshmukh and sixteen constables of ...
In India, Maoists kill 17 policemen in ambush
PRESS TV - 31 minutes ago
In their latest wave of attacks, Maoist rebels in India have killed 17 security personnel in the troubled west of the country. Police sources said at least 150 Maoists attacked the security forces in forests in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra ...
Maoists massacre 17 policemen in Maharashtra (Third Lead)
Thaindian.com - 1 hour ago
Nagpur, Oct 8 (IANS) In a major attack days before the assembly polls, Maoist guerrillas Thursday ambushed a police patrol and gunned down at least 17 policemen in a jungle stretch of Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district. Suspected Maoists also slit the ...
Centre rushes more forces to Maha after naxal attack
Press Trust of India - 2 hours ago
New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) The Centre today rushed additional paramilitary forces to Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra, where 17 policemen were killed in an ambush by the Maoists, to assist the state security forces. "Additional (central) forces are in...
IAF not to take part in anti-Naxal combat operation
IBNLive.com - 1 hour ago
GOOD SHOW: IAF's Sarang helicopters' team presents an air show during the IAF Day Parade in Hindon. ibnlive.com is on mobile now. Read news, watch videos be a Citizen Journalist. Log on tom.ibnlive.com NOW! Hindon Airbase (Ghaziabad): The Cabinet ...
IAF to take adequate steps to counter Naxals: Chidambaram
Hindustan Times - 2 hours ago
Defence Minister AK Antony said no decision has been taken so far on the IAF's request to fire at the Maoists in self defence. However, if permission is granted, the IAF will mount guns manned by Garud, the IAF's special force, Air Chief Marshal PV ...
Indian Air Force turns 77
Hindustan Times - 5 hours ago
The Indian Air Force (IAF) turned 77 on Thursday with an elaborate parade and aerobatics display. The event commenced with a hang glider show after which flag bearing sky divers of Akash Ganga team dropped out of an AN-32 transporter. ...
"The IAF will take adequate counter-measures," Home Minister P Chidambaram said when asked about IAF seeking permission from the Defence Ministry to open fire at Naxals if its helicopters or air crew came under attack.
more by P Chidambaram - 2 hours ago -Hindustan Times (6 occurrences)
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CCS to decide whether IAF can shoot back at naxals in self-defence
Times of India - Oct 6, 2009
NEW DELHI: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Thursday is likely to take a decision on whether IAF personnel should be allowed to fire back in "self-defence'' if their helicopters come under attack from naxalites. Sources said since the IAF ...
CCS approves anti-Naxal plan, Def Min studying IAF proposal
Press Trust of India - 21 minutes ago
New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) The Cabinet Committee on Security today approved a new plan to counter Maoists in the backof a Jharkhand police Inspector being beheaded by the Maoists, even as the Defence Ministry said it was studying an IAF proposal to open ...
CCS clears anti-naxal plan
Press Trust of India - 54 minutes ago
New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) With Naxals striking at will, the Cabinet Committee of Security(CCS) today approved the Government's new plan to counter Maoists under which the infested states will have an effective coordination and police taking a lead role. ...
IAF turns 77, celebrates in style
Rediff - 1 hour ago
The Indian Air Force on Thursday celebrated its 77th anniversary with a breathtaking display of air power by its frontline fighter aircrafts, followed by a thrilling aerobatics performance by its Surya Kiran and Sarang teams. ...
IAF enforcement along LAC not against China: Air Chief
Indian Express - Oct 7, 2009
Indian Air Force (IAF) chief PV Naik said on Wednesday that the upgradation of the air-field infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China was not "adversary specific". "....I have been trying to address this particular issue that...
PC favours IAF firing on naxals
Press Trust of India - Oct 7, 2009
New Delhi, Oct 7 (PTI) As government contemplates use of air power against Maoists, Home Minister P Chidambaram today favoured the Indian Air Force firing on naxals while the Air Chief PV Naik said the rules of engagement in such situation will be ...
ISRO to help IAF and ground forces in against Naxals
Times Now.tv - Oct 7, 2009
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will assist the Indian Air Force in its fight against Naxals. ISRO will be providing technical support to the IAF and ground forces in a major offensive against Naxalites in the jungles of Chattisgarh, ...
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