Naxal violence: 2009 proves worst year for Maharashtra

03-11-09

Naxalite violence: 2009 proves

the worst year for Maharashtra 

  • Naxal menace has cost 648 lives, 19.07 cr loss till date since 1980 in Maharashtra

By Kartik Lokhande

In 1980, the first batch of Naxalites entered Sironcha area in the then Chandrapur district marking the beginning of Naxalite violence in Maharashtra. In 1991, the state witnessed the highest number of incidents involving Naxalites. Almost 18 years later, Maharashtra still continues to fight the Naxalites, who now call themselves Maoists. In all these years, total 648 lives are lost and the total loss of property stands at a whopping Rs 19.07 crore.

As is known to all, five districts of Maharashtra are considered to be Naxalite-affected. These include four from Vidarbha region namely Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Gondia, and Yavatmal; and one from Marathwada --the current Chief Minister Ashok Chavan’s home-district Nanded. Though the districts of Gadchiroli, Gondia, and Chandrapur remained the most-affected among them. As the Naxalites first entered Sironcha in the then Chandrapur (now, Gadchiroli) district, that saw the first casualties. In 1985, five years after entering that district, in a bid to create an atmosphere of terror, the Naxalites killed three civilians. Whereas, the first Naxalite casualty was registered in 1980 itself. In 1988, the Naxalites first killed three security personnel.

As the calender pages turned, the districts of Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Bhandara (including newly created Gondia district), Yavatmal and Nanded started witnessing a spurt in the activities of the armed outlaws. Between 1991 and 1993, the Naxalites mostly belonging to People’s War engaged into the activities that proved to be the peak of Naxalite-related violence. During this period, as many as 35 policemen/SRPF/CRPF personnel were killed apart from 61 civilians, and 33 Naxalites. Thus, in those three years, the State witnessed total 129 casualties in Naxalite-related violence.

In 2004, the erstwhile People’s War active in Andhra Pradesh and adjoining parts of Maharashtra and the erstwhile Maoist Communist Centre of India active in Bihar and Jharkhand came together to form Communist Party of India (Maoist). Since then, the activities of now Maoists have definitely seen rise. Barring 2008, since 2004 till October 31, 2009, every year the State has witnessed more than a 104 Maoist incidents. Every year, since then, civilian casualties have been reported. Throughout the history of Naxalite violence in Maharashtra in general, and Vidarbha region in particular, 2006 was the best year for security forces as it saw as many as 22 Naxalite casualties. However, the same was the worst year for tribals as 41 of them were killed.

Come 2009, and the Maoists became deadlier. They killed as many as 52 policemen in ambushes at only three places namely Markegaon, Hattigota, and Laheri. “It is also the worst year as far as number of Naxalite incidents is concerned. It is till October 31 itself that the figure of Naxalite violence has equalled 145, the previous high recorded in 1991,” said the police sources. The sources attributed this to neglect of the State towards the serious security threat and the failure of gathering actionable Intelligence about the coming together of over 100 Naxalites to launch an attack or lay and ambush for the police parties. “Everytime there was a lull in Naxalite activities, the State chose not to utilise the lull to go ahead with its developmental activities in the backward regions. Now, it is talking of effecting development of the affected areas. It is really unfortunate. Had the menace been taken seriously in the past by the Police Department seniors and the policy-makers, as many as 52 cops would not have lost their lives,” added the official.

Apart from loss of life, the loss of property has also been reported in all these years in affected areas. So far, going by the official figures, the Government property loss runs into Rs 10,41,67,086 while the loss of private property is to the tune of Rs 8,65,93,455.

Interestingly, if one concentrates on the scenario since 2004, it becomes apparent that the Maoists have been working on a dangerous plan to spread terror through killing the civilians as well as by upping the ante against the security forces so as to affect the morale of personnel. During the period 2004-2009 (till October 31), total 96 security personnel have been killed including 52 police personnel in 2009 alone. If the sources are to be believed, these incidents has affected the morale of the police personnel so much that in certain pockets, they do not go beyond a kilometre or two while on patrolling. In all, 151 civilians were killed during the same period. They were killed by the Naxalites branding them as police informants, in an obvious bid to spread terror. Whereas, during this period, the security forces were successful in gunning down 49 Maoists. Among the three --security personnel, civilians, and the Maoists-- civilians who are mostly the tribals have proven to be the biggest losers as their casualties are higher than other two.

If one takes a look at the figures of loss of property, during the same period, it becomes evident that the Maoists have concentrated mostly on damaging the private property. Since 2004, loss of private property amounted to Rs 5,66,94,978 while the loss of Government property amounted to Rs 4,58,91,516, which may come as a respite to the Government agencies. However, sources believe, this fact is more worrying as it would ultimately distract any private investment coming in the Naxalite-affected areas. This may lead to cutting off the employment avenues for the locals, which may land these unemployed masses into the trap of the Maoists.

Analyse This

  • Total Naxal incidents between 1980 and Oct 2009 -- 2,188

  • Total casualties in Naxalite-related violence -- 648

  • Total security personnel killed -- 167  

  • Total Naxalites killed -- 110

  • Total civilians killed -- 371

  • Total loss of property -- Rs 19,07,60,541

 Naxalite violence in Vidarbha -- At a glance

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year       Securitymen killed            Naxalites killed      Civilians killed      Property loss
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1980            --                                                01                               --                            --
1985            --                                                 --                                03                   Rs 2,01,215
1990            --                                                02                               18                   Rs 1,32,77,447
1991            12                                              14                               22                   Rs 36,62,611
1995            01                                              03                               06                   Rs 11,25,475
2000            --                                                02                               12                   Rs 20,14,168
2005            25                                              03                               27                   Rs 85,13,038
2009
(till Oct 31)  52                                             04                               34                   Rs 3,33,19,696
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