Maoist violence up, deaths also rising: Chidambaram

NEW DELHI - The situation in states affected by Left-wing extremism continues to be a cause of grave concern and the number of deaths last year indicated a rising trend, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Monday.

Last year, there were 1,125 deaths — these included 591 civilians, 317 security personnel and 217 militants. This is far more than the 721 deaths in 2008, and the toll of 696 in 2007.

“The situation in the states affected by Left-wing extremism continues to be a cause of grave concern. The number of deaths in 2009 indicated a rising trend,” Chidambaram said while presenting the monthly report card of his ministry.

In his reckoning, the increase in the number of incidents and casualties was not surprising because, after a review of the policy, state governments had decided to deploy a larger number of security forces and engage the Naxalites in districts dominated by them with a view to re-establish the authority of the government.

I expect this trend to continue in 2010, but I am also confident that state governments would be able to gradually reclaim control over areas that are now dominated by the Naxalities.

Chidambaram’s strategy had been to clear out Maoist-held areas even while development initiatives are launched among the disadvantaged residents.

The forces are to be deployed until the area comes under full control and development schemes and infrastructure take root, said a ministry official.

An anti-Maoist offensive is planned in 11 strategic districts along the borders of Maoist-stronghold states like Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand in addition to smaller, simultaneous operations through the dense jungles in Orissa and Maharashtra.

The home minister is to chair a meeting of chief ministers of four Maoist-affected states next week in Kolkata to fine-tune joint operations.

The meeting will be attended by the chief ministers of Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and Bihar to work out a comprehensive strategy for inter-state joint operations in rebel strongholds.

On Jammu and Kashmir, Chidambaram pointed out that the year began with the union government cautioning it to remain at a high level of alert against terrorist and militant activities.

This was mainly due to increase in the attempts to infiltrate across the international border and the LoC (Line of Control) in Jammu and Kashmir. In January alone, 10 attempts to infiltrate were neutralised by the security forces.