Bastar: As the summer sets in the dense forest regions of Dandkaranya largely encompassing the modern-day Bastar division of Chhattisgarh, the top rung of the banned CPI (Maoist), the face of the armed Maoist or Naxal insurgency in Bharat, are too facing the heat in their long held bastion.
The Central Committee (CC) of the proscribed group has reportedly issued a press note seeking a ‘ceasefire’ and offering peace talks with the government if the latter agreed on their terms such as the withdrawal of the security forces from Bastar and more.
The purported letter written in Telugu reveals that the extremist are under intense pressure due to continuous campaigns of the security forces under ‘Operation Kagaar’ resulting in neutralisation of over 400 people including a few notable men of the banned outfit.
The ultras in their statement has urged the government to immediately halt the operations in the Central India, encompassing the Abujhmad (Hills of Unknown) region, a bastion of the reds since decades as one of the others pre-conditions before the alleged peace talks. The other listed riders are ‘not opening of security camps’ in deep forested areas along no further deployment of security personnel.
The letter issued by the top brass of the outlaws has arrived at a time when around 2800-2900 cadres associated with the dreaded outfit have either arrested, surrendered or neutralised in the past few years, marking a significant turnaround in the forested zones, once identified as the breeding ground of the so-called protracted people’s war.
The change in strategy in dealing with the outlaws who were once dominating the landscapes of Bastar are well reflected in the figures of fatalities on the Maoist sides which suggests that the security forces in continuation of their aggressive campaign against the ultras have neutralised over 130 of their cadres since January alone.
This followed by the surrender of over 500 members of the group in the contemporary period alone, hinting the growing disgruntlement among the local cadres.
It is worth noting that majority of such operations have been carried out in the Maad region, once considered a safe haven for the top brass of the group.
Are Maoists in search of breathing time?
The crumbling of the Maoist’s bastion in Jharkhand and more significantly in Chhattisgarh in recent years suggests that the outlaws are in trouble and shaking on ground against the advancing security forces who are strategically positioned better than the yesteryears.
It is widely believed that the opening of security camps in interiors have also dealt a body blow to the intel network of the outlaws which in turn has resulted in surge of civilian killings by the cadres of the group, likely out of the brewing frustration.
This has further augmented the resentment among the locals, a large chunk of who were once believed to be sympathetic for the Maoist cause, eventually affecting the recruitment drive of the proscribed group.
Further the cracks between the local tribal cadres, who constitutes the first line of defense of the outlaws and, the top rung largely consist of the outside cadres has only intensified in recent times as hinted by the officials spearheading the operations on ground.
In such, it is being speculated that the alleged proposal of peace talks by the outlaws is largely motivated by all these aforesaid issues and the looming threat of being wiped out.
Tactical retreat and pressure tactics via frontal outfits/urban sympathisers
It is worth recalling that ‘tactical withdrawal’ or retreat are very much part of the extremist’s ‘strategy’, in which the red’s ideologue have stressed on changing tactics of armed insurgency, depending upon the enemy (government forces) strength and own capabilities.
Also it is quite evident that the People’s Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA), the armed unit of the CPI (Maoist) operates in tandem with various frontal groups which are part of the larger ‘United Front’, encompassing various right groups and individuals working in the urban areas as suggested in the documents adopted by the banned group in the year 2007.
These urban supporters/sympathisers more commonly referred as ‘Urban Naxals’ have always been the driving force behind the insurgency on ground, providing intellectual support and cover fire whenever the armed insurgents operating in the remote areas looks distressed and weak.
The banned outfit through their statements often appeals to these groups and individuals to rally behind the cause of the violent movement, terming it a fight of the marginalized section against alleged corporatization of the tribal lands.
Most of the time their calls are well answered by these groups/individuals who often found justifying the armed insurgency while selectively ignoring the tragedy caused by it to the common people, majority of who belongs to the tribal community itself.
History of deception
It is worth recalling that this is not the only time that the Maoists has approached the government with the alleged peace offers and the ultras had also tried negotiating a similar peace deal in the year 2004 with the then Andhra Pradesh government, only to unilaterally announcing the failure of the dialogue months later.
The acceptance of the peace deal led to open rallies and free movement of the Maoist leaders in the state who later announced the formation of the CPI (Maoist) with the merger of Peoples War Group and Maoist Communist Centre of India (MCCI).
Astonishingly, the then General Secretary of CPI (Maoist) later claimed that talks and peace are part of the ‘class struggle’ too, hinting that negotiating a peace deal to bide time is a part of the strategy to regain strength and intensify the armed insurgency.
Going by the history and the strategic tactics followed by the Mao’s men from time to time, it looks that the outfit’s alleged offer for peace is nothing but a desperate attempt to bide some time to regain strength via pressure tactics, particularly at a time when the organization is unable to maintain its grip on the local cadres and believed to be battling for its existence.
The state government’s response
The government on the other hand has clarified that although it welcomes anyone who is willing to lay down arms and join the mainstream, any riders for the alleged peace talks will not be entertained.
“Neither the state or the Union Government wants to fire a single bullet but how can a discussion would take place if they (Maoists) are using terms like ‘ceasefire’, given there is no war like situation in the state,” said deputy CM Vijay Sharma.
He added that the government is ready for talks and the Maoists should appoint or send someone but there shouldn’t be any riders for the dialogue, asserting that the government is making efforts to provide benefits of surrender and rehabilitation policy to the surrender Naxals and to organize their lives.
Taking it further, the Union Home Minister during his recent visit to the state appealed to the extremists to lay down weapon and join mainstream. “The era of violence in Bastar is coming to an end. I appeal to my Maoist brothers to give up arms and join the mainstream as development cannot be blocked with bullets and bombs,” said the Minister while stressing that no one rejoices when a Maoist is killed as they are our own people.
