NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the recently held DGP/IGP conference in Chhattisgarh, directed officials to make a decisive strategic shift in their strategy from 'armed action' against violent elements to 'unfolding welfare and developmental initiatives' in identified districts where Naxals had their dominance, sources said.
According to the sources, the directions were given with an aim to hold on to the areas regained from Naxal operatives by drying up the local support, which the Maoists received earlier.
They said that the Prime Minister stressed the fact that since security situation in such areas has seen a 'significant improvement', the states and union territories, previously affected by left-wing violence, should shift their focus on public outreach, positive policing and deeper engagement with local communities, especially tribal youth.
A senior official, who attended the meet in Raipur in November last year, told TNIE, quoting the Prime Minister, that he asked state police forces to shift their strategy in erstwhile LWE-affected districts from "crisis handling to facilitating welfare and development" and reach out to people at large.
The PM, it is learnt, also suggested that the state governments ensure they post more development work-related officers in those areas, instead of heavy deployment of security forces.
"The Prime Minister said efforts should also be made to build a positive image of police by narrating and amplifying stories of sacrifice, valour, professionalism and hard work of personnel security force in their fight against Naxal operatives, as the change in narrative remains a critical component in consolidating the gains made on the ground," the official said.
The states were also asked to involve local youth through constructive activities such as sports competitions and cultural programmes at block and district levels, on the lines of initiatives like the recently held ‘Bastar Olympics’, they said, adding that such activities will help bridge trust deficits and give young people a stake in peace.
On the lines of initiatives taken for the youth of Jammu & Kashmir, it was also suggested that the state governments should organise tours and educational tours for tribal youth to other parts of the country to help them connect with mainstream India and build an emotional bond beyond conflict zones.
Notably, these suggestions have come in the backdrop of major setbacks suffered by the Maoist leadership in recent months. In a significant blow, security forces killed Ganesh Uikey, a Central Committee member and the Odisha in-charge of the banned CPI (Maoist), in a major anti-Maoist operation in Kandhamal district on December 25. His death followed the earlier elimination of Madvi Hidma, one of the most feared Naxal commanders.
The officials feel that the Prime Minister’s push is aimed at ensuring that the decline of Maoist violence is followed by visible development and lasting peace, so that vacuums left by insurgents are filled by governance, opportunity and trust rather than resentment, which may lead to regrouping of new cadres on the ideological lines.