Maoist insurgency in India has no doubt suffered a setback following the arrest and killing of some leaders, including the politburo member Kishenji. Media reports said the party adopted certain changes in its strategy and ensured adequate security measures with the US-made Colt M16 rifles for the regional leaders.

There was a lull in the movement but attack and confrontation with the paramilitary forces is continuing. At least five commando troopers were killed during the last week in Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Orissa. Two commandos of the special task force were killed on Saturday when the red rebels fired upon a strong team approaching to their hideout in the forest area of Bihar. Reinforced security forces engaged in heavy fighting on the following day. The government claimed six Maoists killed but none of the bodies could be recovered.

Landmines triggered by the rebels blew up a mine protected armoured vehicle in the Maoist citadel Chhatisgarh on Monday leaving at least two jawans dead and five critically wounded. One BSF jawan was killed and seven others wounded in landmine blast in Orissa on September 1.
In Assam, grenade attack of ULFA left one solider killed and more than a dozen wounded including some civilians on Saturday. Later, ULFA regretted the injuries to civilians and urged the people to maintain distance from the uniformed personnel in future.

Indian Maoists’ challenge
Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde admitted that Maoists are gaining in strength and have displayed military potential to form new battalions. “Naxalism continues to pose a significant challenge. There are indications about increase in the number of trained armed cadres, reorganisation of military potentials for formation of new battalions,” Shinde told a meeting of police and security forces chiefs of Maoist infested states in Delhi on September 8.
A recent study showed high rate of exodus from paramilitary CRPF and BSF because of severe stress. Reluctant to face up the highly trained well armed Maoists, many jawans and officers have opted out of service. According to officials, nearly three lakh CRPF paramilitary forces are deployed for the anti-Maoist operations in addition to BSF and state police in 20 out of 28 states of India.

A report from Jharkhand said after suffering temporary setback Maoists are trying to equip its firing squads with modern weapons. With landmines and bombs proving to be somewhat ineffective to keep the security forces at bay, the red rebels have now turned to procurement of sophisticated arms. They have recently procured powerful US-made Colt M16 rifles, two of which seized by the security forces. Widely used by the American army, the rifles could be handy for the outfit as its cartridge is of the same bore as those used in Insas rifles.
Although the Maoists do not have enough ammunition for foreign-made weapons, they nevertheless have a huge stock of Insas cartridges looted from the police from time to time. It is said the US arms were procured by People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of Manipur and later brought to Jharkhand in small consignments. PLA men are training Maoists in Saranda. Maoists also have Russian rocket launchers, which can cause damages within a radius of 25-50km; and AK-47s and AK-56s and smaller Czech-made pistols.

In Tripura, repressive AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) has been extended for another six months despite angry and loud protests. The law was enforced in the state in 1997 in the wake of the heightened insurgency. Armed with sweeping powers, the army and paramilitary forces arrested, searched homes and confined thousands of suspected insurgents. Many innocent people have been victimized under the law. Irom Sharmila of neighbouring Manipur State is on fast unto death for the last twelve years demanding withdrawal of the inhuman, repressive law. Heavily guarded in custody, Irom, 40, has been kept alive by forcing liquid food passed through the nose. She went into fast protesting the army shooting down of eight innocent people, including women and children in the state capital. She was arrested the following day and detained under heavy guard.

Former army Chief VK Singh viewed that Maoist movement could spread throughout India if not addressed the root causes behind its growth – widening socio-economic inequality. Economic reforms and liberalization process has created further chasm, reflected in the spread of Maoists in 270 districts in comparison to few districts in early 90s.

Nepali Maoists
Meanwhile, the ruling UCPN (Maoist) of Nepal has welcomed the US government for excluding the party from the terrorist list. Its property and interests in property in the United States or within the possession or control of US persons will no longer be blocked, and US entities may engage in transactions with the party. USA had listed UCPN as terrorist in 2003 after the Maoists launched People’s War against the monarchy. Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kazi Shrestha hoped relations with USA will now move forward in a positive direction.

UCPN (Maoist) is now divided with hardliner elderly leader Mohan Baidya Kiran forming Communist Party of Nepal (CPN). Leaning towards China CPN is said to be gaining strength. The ruling faction chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) and prime minister Baburam Bhattarai having been exposed as being ‘Indian agents’ have been losing mass support.
“Indo-US Axis is now into full action” in Nepal, commented Weekly Telegraph of Kathmandu about freeing UCPN (Maoist) from the US blacklist of terrorist.