Menace of Maoist Terrorism: 15 commandos' deaths in Maharashtra, Five including MLAs killing in Chhattisgarh

Deadly attacks by Maoist terrorists on security personnel took place in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, in recent weeks.

First, in Chhattisgarh, a BJP MLA was among those killed when his convoy was targeted in the Bastar region. Then, 16 persons including 15 commandos and a driver, were killed in the IED blast in Maharashtra.

These were apart from other attacks by Maoists in this period. However, the killings of security personnel that are otherwise played in media, didn't evoke much response on these occasions. Just a few months ago, deaths of CRPF personnel in Pulwama (Jammu and Kashmir) prompted nationwide anger.

In the case of Kashmir, TV channels just didn't let the incident go and kept showing the visuals for days and nights, until there was such outrage that across India, people took out rallies. In almost every city and town, youngsters came out on streets.

This also led to attacks on Kashmiris. What was the fault of Kashmiris living in other cities or hostels or students, traders in Meerut or Lucknow? But when the Maoists set off blasts in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, TV channels didn't have much time.

No questions are asked as to how so much explosive reaches these forests. Or, how Naxalites continue to get the weapons. Just a few days later one or two persons may be killed in an encounter and the 'claim' of killing conspirators are accepted in the press.

These incidents were not given focus though Pulwama had seen nonstop coverage. In the case of Naxal attacks, there was no report about identity of killers and there were no discussions. The focus remained on Lok Sabha elections.

Neither reporters talked about last rites of martyrs or cared about the compensation or how bodies reached the homes. This is strange. In case of Maoist terror, there is no seriousness and unfortunately for TV channels -newspapers it is just another attack.

LINKS:
1. No end to terrorism as Maoists kill 16 in terror attack in Maharashtra. CLICK
2. BJP legislator, security personnel killed in terror attack in Chhattisgarh. CLICK

Terrorism in India: Five killed as Maoists blow up bus carrying security personnel in Chhattisgarh

Maoists continue to target security personnel in Chhattisgarh.

In the latest incident, they have blown up a bus carrying CISF personnel in southern part of the state.

Five personnel were killed in this IED blast. They included four civilians and a CISF jawan. Several other personnel were injured in the terror attack.

The incident occurred at Bacheli, which is located in Dantewada district. The bus was badly damaged in the attack.

"In all, seven people including three CISF jawans from Akash Nagar camp were going for routine purchase on a private bus deployed for election duty, when they were targeted by Maoists", said a Hindustan Times report, quoting Bastar IG Vivekananda Sinha.

Those killed included the driver of the bus and two other on the staff-driver and cleaner. This is the second such attack in ten days in Dantewada. Earlier, a Doordarshan cameraman covering the polls and two policemen were killed on October 30.

The DD team was going to Nilawaya near Sumeli camp to report on a new polling booth. There was outrage all over the country after the incident. A video of one of the DD staffer had gone viral.

The Naxalites' audacity is all the more surprising as barely a few days from now, high-profile politicians are set to visit the region. PM Narendra Modi is arriving here for campaigning ahead of the Assembly polls. Also, Congress president Rahul Gandhi would also reach Chhattisgarh this month.

Clearly, Naxals have sent a signal. The attack also suggests that law-and-order situation remains poor in the State despite claims of crackdown on Maoists. In fact, it also shows poor intelligence gathering from the Maoist-infested region. Reports in Patrika and Hindustan Times, Delhi. Both carried it on front page but none used the word 'Terrorism'.

Biggest terror attack leaves 12 security personnel dead but Indian media is not stirred: TV channels have no time for martyrs, no outrage either

This is the biggest terror strike this year. Twelve Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed in a blast in Chhattisgarh.

The Maoists triggered a landmine blast, which caused deaths of the security personnel. The incident occurred in Sukma district. The Maoists also looted the weapons and managed to escape.

Yet, the news of this ambush didn't stir Indian media. It was Uttar Pradesh election that was important, and hence the news didn't have much interest for media personnel.

Besides, the suspects were Maoists and the incident was in rural part of Chhattisgarh. Hence, no TRP and no interest. Neither there was any discussion about the 'dalam' involved, its leaders or their names.

Those killed included one inspector, two sub-inspectors, one head-constable and eight constables. There were no mention of the names of these martyrs in national media. No sympathy or candle light vigil or even tributes.

No reporters visited the families of these martyrs or raised questions about whether VIPs even attended funerals or not, how much compensation was announced and how martyrs' families would not lead their lives.

Political parties didn't say much. There were customary condolence messages but no protests or demonstrations. Even Opposition parties were silent--no demand for CM's resignation or even statements about poor law-and-order situation.

In the newspapers next day, it was carried but not as lead or as a major national news. Indian Express carried it in a single column. Hindustan Times probably didn't carry the report at all. At least, I couldn't find it even in brief.

A day later, most papers didn't even carry a follow-up. This is unlike the recent incident in Lucknow where a terror suspect was gunned down and it dominated prime time news. Saifullah was not accused of any killing.

Yet, the encounter made headlines and was telecast live. In sharp contrast, the biggest militant attack on security personnel, got little coverage. Online too, the few papers that carried the story, had plain coverage, based on agency reports.

Most of the headlines avoided even words like Terror or Militancy. Rather, the headlines were like, 'cops ambushed' or 'Naxal attack'. But that's a story which continues forever. That's what our media is all about. [Photo: Raipur edition of Dainik Bhaskar on March 12]

English media stories: LINK 1, Link 2, Link 3

Media's surprising softness towards Maoists: Even terms like 'militant', 'radical' or 'left-wing extremists' not used after seven policemen killed in blast

Seven commandos were killed in a Maoist attack in Gadchiroli in Maharashtra on May 11. As expected, this incident wasn't treated as a major news on electronic media throughout the day.

But what was more surprising was that the newspapers seem to have gone extra soft towards Naxalites. There was a time, till a few months ago, when terms like 'Red terrorists', 'Left-wing extremists', 'Leftist militancy' or 'Radicals' were used after such acts.

However, none of the newspapers used these words. Even words like 'explosion' and 'blast' were avoided. The headlines were too simple like 'Seven policemen killed in Gadchiroli' or 'Maoist attack leaves 7 cops dead in Maharashtra'.

Of course, one doesn't expect 'screaming headlines' when a group other than suspected jihadis commit an act of any magnitude. But on this occasion, even the shock or anger over so many deaths was missing in the newspaper reports.

The words used were not terrorists, extremists or militants, but REBELS, MAOISTS et al. Terminology, words play a very important role. Either the choice is deliberate or you just don't get the words while writing on killings by a group though you seethe with anger when the killers are different, leaves a lot to think.

It has impact on society too. Naxal attack won't anger society as much, as newspapers and TV channels largely ignored it. One or two papers took it on their front page. A 'powerful IED' was used to engineer the blast that targeted police vehicle and later there was indiscriminate firing on police personnel.

But neither the cops were 'blown up' or 'butchered' in media reports. They were just killed. Plain, straightforward reporting. At places, 'suspected Maoist rebels' was used. The use of words can increase or decrease gravity of any incident. The difference in coverage of incidents, shapes public perception.

When there is such one-sided, blatantly biased reporting in cases where certain groups are suspect, and on the other hand softness shown towards certain others, it raises questions. Generally, there is anger over death of men in Khaki. No panel discussions were held in studios in the evening.

Strangely, it appeared that these deaths were nothing 'unusual', unlike other cases when even 'no death, just injuries' in a 'terror strike' is seen as 'attack against nation'. Incidents like killing of 30-odd Congress leaders and policemen in Chhattisgarh were almost termed like terror attacks, but a lot seems to have changed.

Compare to Chennai incident, Bodoland killings

Now see the difference. Take the recent case of the blast in a compartment in a train in Chennai recently that killed 1 passenger (a woman). Even before it was clear that whether it was indeed a bomb or something else, the names of Muslim outfits were poured by anchors. Also, it was dubbed 'terror strike' instantly.

This was the lead news of all newspapers. There has been no arrest so far and yet, the follow-ups continued for days.And just for the sake of record, we must talk about another incident--a genocide or a pogrom in North East.

When 46 Muslims were killed in Bodoland region in Assam recently, the killers were termed as 'separatists' and 'insurgents'. At a couple of places, the word militant was used too. NDTV used the term 'violence' in Bodoland, so that the group involved in the attack, wasn't even named.

Word play, isn't it! Shouldn't we wonder, why?

Welfare Vs Warfare: How to tackle Naxalism in India

It's astonishing that even after the death of 76 CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada, the policy-makers don't seems to have an idea how to tackle the Naxalites, rather the clueless politicians-bureaucracy seem to be falling in the Naxal trap.

Everybody seems unanimous in arming policemen, sending more forces and even using airforce but don't realise that this is not the solution. For the last 15 years, police strength has gone up astronomically in this region but the situation has in fact worsened. My thoughts on the issue:

1. Don't forget this IAS officer & others of his ilk

It's high-time the Centre must introspect. Do you recall the name of an IAS officer who was caught just a couple of months back for amassing vast assets including 220 bank accounts and property worth crores in this tribal-dominated poor state.

BL Agarwal was just one of the numerous government employees who ensure that out of every 1 rupee only 0.01 reaches the citizen. He was not dismissed but merely put under suspension after several days following tremendous media pressure.

Officials who milched this mineral-rich state that was called rice bowl of country and had one of the most dense forests in the country, should not be spared at any cost. It is they who are responsible for this huge socio-economic inequity that gave Maoists an opportunity to brainwash the tribal populace, which in turn led to the phenomenon of Naxalism.

2. Development can defeat Naxalism

Naxals can be defeated through development. But in rural, especially tribal India, development is a dream. At least, the most basic facilities can be provided. Dantewara is Naxal-infested district. But has basic development reached districts not affected by Maoists?

Everybody worries about sending army and more policemen to the forests but did they ever plan sending medical practitioners to rural areas, or making it mandatory for doctors to serve in rural areas for at least a year or two. Or even training health staff.

3. Lack of vision, concern

Today no doctor would go to Dantewara but ten years ago it wasn't the situation here. Was there any concern then? Either a district is Naxal affected or not, the situation remains same. Centre and state governments have no concrete plan to provide health facilities in villages.

Officials rarely visit rural areas. And that is true for every department. The lack of monitoring of schemes and their implementation has caused alienation among underprivileged tribals, which is perhaps giving rise to the insurgency.

Tribals were depended on forests but the officials' nexus with forest mafia led to large-scale tree felling which disturbed the entire ecosystem for the indigenous Indians. All these things happened unchecked for years and there should be a serious national debate on it.

4. If only they sent doctors to tribal lands...

Officers sitting in Delhi and Raipur don't see pregnant women writhing in pain with no primary health centres. Even compounders and basic medicines are not available once you travel 10 kms out of an urban centre.

Just a day back a pregnant woman was left bleeding on the floor of a major hospital and had it not been a concerned journalist's frantic calls to officials after midnight, she may not have survived. This happened in a major urban centre. Forget rural areas and tribal heartland. Education is important but medicine is needed most after meals.

5. Where Patwari is demigod

Another example is that of an educated senior citizen unable to get property registered in his name because he has not been able to locate the Patwari for the last couple of years. The land is still registered in his mother's name who was born almost a century ago and lists him as minor child even today.

In rural areas, even an official of the rank of Patwari becomes demigod. Once a lower-level government official transfers one's land is someone's name or changes records, there is no way it can be redressed, unless the person has high-connections.

Majority of feuds in rural areas are over land disputes. And corruption at the lower-rung of government is responsible for this situation. There is no speedy redressal. Now imagine the situation of tribals, mostly illiterate and having no papers to support any property claim.

6. War is not wisdom

The world around the tribals changed fast. They lived without harming forests and water. Urbanisation and greed forced them out of their forests and were evicted. They aren't greedy but even the most basic amenities haven't reached them.

Agreed, some of them have been brain-washed. Many of them are hardcore killers too. But war cries and Us Vs Them rhetoric can't solve the issue. Left-wing extremism is a serious law-and-order issue but gunning down tribals is not the solution. It's ironic that top officials, intellectuals and politicians appear unanimous that increasing police presence would solve the crisis.

It may put more pressure on Maoists. However, terming it a war is insane. When guns blaze from both sides, the tribal will be forced to choose either side. He may be brainwashed or forced to join any of the groups. He might not be a Maoist sympathiser in first place rather a victim of the circumstances. In this situation, is it pertinent to wage war against tribals? They must be won over.

7. Improving quality of lives: Healing touch, concern needed

But shouldn't there be any introspection on part of policy-makers about the ways to improve the lives of the tribals. If it happens in one district, the effect will percolate to other neighbouring districts. However, corruption and brute repressive measures can't solve the issue.

It's very easy to raise battalions of impoverished tribals to kill fellow tribals. Toppos and Ekkas killing the Minjs and Xalxos won't lead us anywhere. Salwa Judam hasn't solved the issue. This mindless bloodbath has to be stopped. A healing touch is needed for tribals.

8. Hold officials accountable, sack corrupt babus

Just a month ago, umpteen children died during vaccination in rurual parts of Northern MP. Once again no top official or politician was held responsible. Attenders and nurses were made scapegoat even as officers whose job is monitoring the drives escaped responsibility.

This is the irony in this country. Responsibility is not fixed. Poor kids can die but no one will be punished. No one resigns even if 76 cops are killed. Union Home minister has taken responsibility but what about Union Home Secretary and Chhattisgarh's ministers.

CRPF and State police play blame game. Someone should be axed. Neither State home minister nor intelligence officers are made to pay for the casualties. Everybody among us who makes mistakes or blunders in professional life, either have to pay for it, but here there are no apologies either.

9. Is this not a terrorist attack?

In fact, it was not termed a terror attack either. After all, the perpetrators had an ideology but didn't belong to a particular religion. And the victims were not the ones with whom the middle-class can identify much. There is a sense of shock but not collective anger.

If an engineering student, an MBA or a software professional are killed, it affects Urban India. Constables, Head constables and even company commanders aren't much like 'us'. So hardly any interviews on TV channels ab out deceased's wives.

For the MNC obsessed urban India, Naxalites are bad but also vague and faraway in forests. The Naxal is the 'other', just like a tribal with whom urbanites have no connection. Perhaps, it's the reason that the Red Radical doesn't create the image of a monster or enemy. And as a result there isn't much thought about how to deal with it.

10. Romanticising Naxalism equally dangerous but...

There is a section that romanticises Naxalism, without realising that it is no less a dangerous position. Tribals will be the worst affected. However, abusing Arundhati Roy round the clock is no less absurd. It serves no purpose.

In newspapers and on websites, its common to see comments urging the government for an all out invasion, as if no human beings live outside cities. Action is needed in the form of development, pro-poor policies and amending laws to protect the rights of tribals.

In urban areas, every law is violated and still the encroachers get away or manage to legalize their violation by paying up through legal or illegal means. But tribals are evicted at the drop of hat. This situation must change.

Even the 'neo-nationalists', the VHP, that once sent its cadres to stop missionary work and convert [or revert] tribals is no longer visible in Chhattisgarh. Till a few years ago the tribal was also a favourite for both the proselytising groups.

With Naxal surge, the right-wing rabblerousers have also left the tribal. The indigenous Indian who has suffered decades of neglect and was exploited by Thanedaar-Patwari-Forest officials, is now caught in this bloddy battle, getting crushed from both sides.

This is the similar story from Jharkhand to Chhattisgarh and Orissa to rural parts of West Bengal, Bihar and Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh, the vast mineral-rich region which is termed as the Red Corridor.

If pro-poor policies are properly implemented, corruption checked and development reaches tribal areas, there is a possibility to tackle the insurgency. Unfortunately this aspect gets ignored in all the debates on Naxalism.

Read related posts on this blog: Failure of bureaucracy and ills plaguing the system