Aggressive Anti-Naxal Policy in the Offing

NEW DELHI: The anti-Naxal policy of the NDA Govt is all set to change the rules of counter-insurgency operations, which will provide the states with the option to use elements of national power to tame Maoists.

The new policy, which has been circulated to all the nine Naxal-affected states, has clearly stated that the NDA Government’s counter-insurgency paradigm would be balanced and holistic with multi-pronged interventions in the areas of security and development, ensuring rights and entitlements of local communities.

“The state is duty bound to resolutely deal with the Maoist violence and reserves the right to use any element of its national power against the outfit as the situation warrants,” the new anti-Naxal policy stated.

After coming to power in May, the NDA’s first step was to describe Maoist-infested region as “Most Dangerous Zone” to increase the hardship allowance of personnel involved in the anti-Naxal operations.

The new policy specifies that the government is determined to deal with Naxal violence. So far, only the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) were deployed in anti-Maoist ops, but the Centre indicated that it might use the resources at its disposal to assist forces on the ground, like adding air power for troop mobilisation.  The affected states had earlier demanded air mobility for the quick assistance of forces operating in difficult terrain.

The multi-pronged approach of the policy is also set to empower the states. The MHA has proposed that the affected states must take the lead in the counter-insurgency campaign with the support from the CAPFs. The Central forces would have the responsibility of holding the entire grid of anti-Naxal operations together while operating seamlessly across the state borders in coordination with the state police.

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The New Indian Express
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