KOCHI:A slew of non-banking finance companies (NBFCs), most of them either engaged in gold loan business as also companies with MNC investments, located in and around Kochi are at the receiving end of the most recent Maoist strike threat.
The latest intelligence report doing the rounds since January 29, which points to January 28, 29 and 30 being observed as attack days by Maoists, goes on to warn that “similar attacks against certain MNCs as well as leading firms are expected in Kochi in the coming days”. A number of business houses located in the business capital of the state, especially those with any possible MNC connection, are ramping up their private security like never before.
Sparing no effort, they have pressed more armed guards into service as also allied security facilities, including better quality CCTV network and other top-of-the-shelf anti-terror security systems. Senior cops tracking Maoist activity in the state say these action groups are leveraging popular sentiment, whether it be on land acquisition—the ransacking of the office of National Highway Authority of India or future action against money lending firms. MNCs are equally big offenders in their eyes, as borne by the attacks on McDonald’s and KFC outlets, they add.
“Globally, terror is a major concern for corporate houses. Kerala, too, has been considered a potential threat for a while now. Given this context, business houses should beef up their infrastructure as this would be in their own interest,” said C J George, Managing Director, Geojit BNP Paribas, whose hub office is located in Kochi.
Kerala police chose to play down the threat perception to business houses, saying such alerts have been issued in the past as well. “The latest alert on a Maoist strike was sent out on January 29, where MNCs and some business houses also figure. The alert to business houses is that precautionary measures be taken to better guard their facilities,” said KG James, Police Commissioner, Kochi.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said there was no need for the business houses to panic. “We are seized of the matter. This is evident as much from yesterday’s arrests as the ongoing strong crackdown on the Maoist miscreants,” he said. On Saturday, the police spread its Maoist net wide to include Porattam, a Left extremist group.
However, the business houses are clear that the police cannot guard their facilities 24 x 7. They have opted to go in for enhanced security facilities, especially securing the perimeter of their business hubs where vital data is stored in servers and files and where acts of vandalism, such as that at the NHAI Kalamaserry office on January 29, could prove debilitating.
Security service companies providing total solutions to business houses will soon be in demand. “Sure, state police has started cracking down on the Maoists. At the same time, it is a reality that major business houses have very little peripheral security. Going by history, Maoists strike in the wee hours when the guards are least alert and there is poor light outside establishments. Not only do the numbers guarding business facilities need to go up, but they need to be properly trained to respond quickly. Also, there have to be adequate lighting and surveillance cameras in place,” said E T Mathew, Internal Security Head, Kerala, G4S Secure Solutions (India).
Members of the elite Maoist group, People’s Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA), make rare appearances in remote forests and occasionally engage the police in combat as happened on December 7 last year at Vellamunda in Wayanad. But it’s the Urban Action Team (UAT) that has been giving the state police sleepless nights. A year ago, IG Suresh Raj Purohit after taking over as the head of Thunderbolt, the anti-Maoist taskforce, said there was a “meticulously woven Maoist network” in the jungles of north Kerala. Over the past 12 months, the Maoists have evolved from a threat limited to forests and villages to a force that could strike at the entire state.
“It is difficult to assert that those from the PLGA are not part of the UAT. It seems a part of their strategy is to limit the attacks to vandalising of targeted areas right now. There is guarantee that it will stay that way,” said Putta Vimaladitya, SP, Wayanad, who has led ground operations of Thunderbolt.
Trail of Strikes
Nov 10, 2014: Strike at Kochi office of Nitta Gelatin
Nov 18, 2014: Attacks on a resort in Thirunelli
Dec 22, 2014: McDonald’s and KFC outlets in Palakkad attacked
Jan 1, 2015: A quarry near a tribal settlement in Kannur attacked
Jan 29, 2015: Suspected Maoist attack on the office of National Highway Authority of India at Kalamassery near Kochi