Combating Maoist activity: No lessons learnt -Governance Now

Combating Maoist activity: No lessons learnt

From December 2014 to recent Maoist attacks in Chhattisgarh, there has been continues strategic and inter-communication flaws among security forces

Yogesh Rajput | April 14, 2015

The past six months have probably been the worst phase for counter-extremism security forces in combating Maoists. The past six months have probably also unearthed strategic and inter-communication flaws among security forces at its best.

In three days, seven officers of the Special Task Force (STF) and five personnel of the Chhattisgarh Armed Forces (CAF) have been killed in Maoist attacks, in separate ambushes.

Earlier on December 1, 2014, 14 personnel of CRPF were killed by Maoists in Sukma district, in a similar manner - an ambush.

In the wee hours of April 11 (Saturday), based on the intelligence inputs, a team of around 50 personnel of STF had ventured into interior forests of Pidmel, Sukma. The team went all alone without the support of any unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Taking advantage of STF’s poor plan, Maoists used the age-old technique of pulling the enemy into the trap by using villagers as a teaser. The team was left clueless as saw fires being shot at it from all sides early Saturday morning. The attack left seven of its personnel dead even as the team tried to retreat. As Maoists looted ammunition and weapons, it took nearly 24 hours for the state police to claim the bodies of its officers.

Then on April 13 (Monday), in afternoon, five CAF personnel were killed after Maoists blew up an anti-landmine vehicle in Dantewada district of the state. A powerful improvised explosive device (IED), carrying more than 50 kg of explosives, was triggered to toss the vehicle. However, the encounter did not stop there. Maoists opened fire after the blasting the vehicle. A few hours earlier, a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed in an exchange of fire between Maoists and security forces in Kanker district early Monday morning, while the BSF squad was on a patrol.

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