Maoist insurgency in Bastar has virtually reached the point of chaos, thanks to the aggressive style of functioning adopted by security forces engaged in counter insurgency work and erosion of faith among local cadres in the Red movement leading to desertions by local cadres/ militia leaders who felt somehow exploited and cheated by their top leaders based in neighbouring States of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. This has not only resulted in lack of coordination between various ‘Dalams’ active in Bastar but also the local Red kshatraps are now running their activities independently, bothering least about the commands of the rebels’ central committee.
Brutal murder of senior Bastar journalist Nemichand Jain by insurgents and the subsequent apology by top Naxal leadership, which blamed local cadres for the heinous act, is a clear indication that leaders of local militias, like Darbha Divisional Committee, are now taking major decisions without fearing their bosses sitting in neighbouring States and executing even murders and loots besides establishing their own areas of influence.
In fact, decades of neglect and exploitation by their top leaders, mostly based in Andhra Pradesh, have annoyed local cadre of insurgents who for years helplessly watched their oppressors taking away all the exploits, billions of rupees collected as levy from contractors engaged in construction as well as trade of forest produce, extortion from Government employees as well as public and through other means, to lead a cosy life in their safe haven while local cadre who suffered a lot both in terms of sub human living condition and danger to their life at the hands of security forces are left to lead a life of misery in forests.
Notably, recent desertion by Jagargunda Area Committee commander Paparao and his wife along with crores of rupees, Naxal commander Shivaji Markam who was active in Bhopalpatnam area, commander Kuriyam alias Yogesh who was a symbol of terror in Gangalur area of Bijapur, Mirtur Naxali Commander Santosh, commander Madanna who was active in Sukma and desertion by Naxali commander Suryam who had been a synonym of terror along the inter-State border of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh along with lakhs of rupees and arms are some of the examples signalling that Bastar cadre are deserting Naxal bandwagon and that erosion in the insurgents’ ranks has set in, a good sign for Bastar people who are suffering the dreads of insurgency for the last five decades.