This refers to the editorial, “Make the Maoists pay” (April 26). While the killing of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel by Maoists at Sukma must be condemned, most of us ask: What exactly are the Maoists fighting for and what has made them resilient despite an intensified manhuntIJ They seem to oppose tooth and nail any attempt by the State to intrude into areas where they have isolated themselves and fellow villagers for a quixotic attempt at overthrowing the Indian state.
The CRPF men were providing protective cover for building a road through and into the Maoist heartland. A decade ago, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had described the Maoist/Naxalite insurgency (also known as left-Wing Extremism) as India’s most serious internal security challenge. Yes, the Maoist threat presents a clear and present danger. The country needs a well-deliberated and finely calibrated response strategy with matching operational doctrines and necessary resources.