Odisha Police sees ‘Red’ over the civilian casualty rate of three every month inflicted by the Maoist in the State last year. The State recorded death of 36 civilians, whom the Maoists labelled as police informers, and two-three casualties among security forces deployed in anti-ultra operation in the State. The trend looks more conspicuous, as by the end of January 2014 the State has recorded three civilian casualties and zero casualties of security personnel. The Home Department data, however, put the number of alleged police informers killed last year at around 20-25 only indicating that the rest were normal civilians.
Maoists believe in area domination and towards accomplishing their strategy they synchronise attacks to pulverise the security forces and their alleged informers, explained a senior serving IPS officer, who earlier had a stint in anti-Maoist operation. Their encore strategy is to instil a high sense of fear in both the security/district apparatus and general public to pursue their core objectives effectively, he added.
Data available show that for the period 2005-2012, when for every seven security men killed the civilian casualties were ten. But for the last two years (2013 and 2014), the proportion changed quite swiftly as for every ten civilians killed, the casualty of security men stood at one. It has been noticed that security forces have been moving emphatically towards a zero casualty rate, but Maoists still have the leverage to strike at will on civilians to instil awe among the people that was amply proved by the last month’s killings.
However, the notable success accomplished by the State police is the leverage of Maoists to strike at civilians was being hemmed at to almost two districts of Koraput and Malkangiri only, though Rayagada and Sundergarh have recorded one killing each last year. On the other hand, neutralisation of Maoists by security forces, however, saw a steep fall last year with only nine neutralisations possible.
Another disconcerting trend under police watch was that during the last two years Maoists’ economic targets in Odisha have been rural roads undertaken through the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana. last year, around half a dozen rural roads were their target against zero in the previous year, reveal the data. This has alarmed the State forces as out of the target to lay over a 624-km road network in the leftwing-affected districts, only around 123 km roads have been done till date.
Interestingly, despite active in mining intensive districts, their economic targets have been only rural roads, panchyat bhawan and telephone exchange/towers. Nationally, the trend includes attack on private pipeline projects, school buildings, power plants and railways also. Police sources informed that combating Maoism in the State has entered into a much-focused liberation strategy. From a high of around 19 districts, since last two years, Maoist incidents were being reported from 9-11 districts with Koraput and Malkangiri emerging as their so-called headquarters. Security forces are coordinating a strategy to bust out Maoist training camps in the region as such camps are a vital component of their overall military tactics. These camps not only provide training to new cadre but function as headquarters in planning special offensives against police and civilians/informers, added the sources.