Naxalism -The Next big Challenge For India

Next big challenge for India is to tackle the problems of Naxalism and other related internal disturbances including insurgency. It includes the group of naxallites, insurgents and racial fights.
As described by our honorable prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh that Naxalism is going to be the next big threat to “the target of India : 2020”. We have also seen its sparks in Lalgarh , West Bengal in the recent months. The way Naxal activism and related violence has been recurring with increasing frequency lately has really become a cause of serious concern for not only the integrity and security, but also the general well-being of this country. While neighbouring Nepal is witnessing a reconciliation with the Naxals (Maoists), as reflected in latter’s participation in the new govern-
ment, India continues to be a victim of their gory ways. India is
still groping in the darkness to size up the real problem and come out with a suitable response
in the form of a well-coordinated strategy to break this wild and intractable stallion called
Naxalism.

It has spread its tentacles to 170 districts in 15 states in February 2005, affecting about 40 per cent of the
geographical area of the country and 35 per cent of its population. With the objective of establishing a ‘Compact Revolutionary Zone’ as
typified by the Red Corridor, extending from the boondocks of North Bihar to the
underdeveloped hinterland of Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra
and Karnataka, in the heart of India, the Naxals aim to use the same, reportedly, for eventual
seizure of the State Power leading to subsequent establishment of the Maoist State.
Be it the activism of Salwa Judum in Chhattisgarh, the attack on Jehanabad jail (resulting in
freeing of about 340 prisoners and their leader Ajay Kanu) in Bihar, attack on Chandra Babu Naidu the heinous killing of Sunil
Mahato, the JMM Member of Parliament or the recent attack on a police camp in Bastar killing
about 56 policemen, Naxals have been evincing greater precision, penetration, organization and
audacity in striking their chosen targets at will. They have also attacked many such symbols of
state authority, mostly police, as witnessed in their incursions in Koraput in Orissa, Madhubani
in Bihar, Giridih and Bokaro in Jharkhand and in Karnataka, killing hundreds of policemen and looting firearms and money.

Transforming themselves into a modern guerilla force, Naxals, today, are equipped with
sophisticated weapons and communication system. With the formation of a united outfit
namely CPI (Maoist) along with the raising of an armed wing i.e. People’s Liberation Guerrilla
Army through the merger of Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) and People’s War Group
(PWG), the Naxal Movement has not only succeeded in getting over the problem of sanguinary

infighting amongst them, but the Movement has also witnessed a shift in focus and strategy.
Today, they are not only logistically better organized and better trained, they are also better
motivated and better led.