Fearing that development activities and infrastructure build up in mineral rich and tribal dominated Bastar could end their decade-old monopoly, Naxals have now renewed their attacks on school buildings, hospitals, roads and bridges, officials said on Sunday.
Insurgents, who virtually run parallel Government in vast forested areas of Bastar which is spread out in about 40,000 sq km, have demolished either partially or entirely dozens of school buildings and hospitals in past one decade.
Bastar is one of the most backward regions of the country with very low literacy rate and high school drop-out rates. State Government has renovated and reconstructed about 180 school buildings and health centres in past 10 years in a bid to bring more and more tribal kids to school and also improve health facilities.
“Cadres of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) have damaged at least 130 roads/bridges/culverts in Maoist-hit districts of Chhattisgarh. The motive to target basic infrastructure in the region is to halt anti-Naxal operations and maintain their dominance in restive areas which severely affected by the movement of security personnel,” said Additional Director General of Police (anti-naxal operation) R K Vij, adding that the practice of damaging roads and bridges usually creates serious problems for local population.
To keep locals isolated from development, ultras have damaged 113 schools operational in Bastar’s districts affected by left Wing Extremists, added ADG Vij.
Insurgents have also demolished around 75 panchayat/cultural buildings existing in Naxal infested districts of the state, Vij added.
Since 2001, insurgents have set over 1000 vehicles, machineries and other properties on fire, causing huge loss to individuals, Government as well as industrial units operational in these regions, claimed Vij.
“Overlooking welfare of public, outlaws have damaged about four buildings of medical care units. They have also targeted and looted at least 34 Public Distribution System (PDS) outlets being operated in Maoists hotbed to meet necessary demands of population residing there,” pointed ADG Vij.
Ultra have also demolished and looted around 19 banks in Bastar.