Bihar becoming bridge for Maoists in Nepal,India: Central intelligence panel

Of concern is not only the sharp rise in security forces causalities but also the fact that not a single Naxal cadre has been killed in any counter-intelligence operation as against five Maoists killed in the same period last year. The reason for worry for the government is the killing of 13 security personnel this year as compared to 1 last year. The number of Naxals arrested has also decreased to 174 from 428 last year. The recovery of weapons dropped to 47 from 151, the report said.

Underlining the poor police-population ratio in the state,it said Bihar has also performed poorly on utilisation of development funds released under the integrated action plan (IAP). Almost 33 per cent of funds allotted to Bihar under IAP covering 11 districts remain unused,whereas Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh used around 84 per cent and 78 per cent.

The field report also indicated that in some parts of Bihar,Maoist have undertaken construction of small roads,check dams and other development works threatening local contractors to contribute in the construction or provide digging equipment.

The report observed that Bihar has been an important cradle of the Maoist movement and given its complex agrarian and social relationships,sustained the movement in the period of its relative decline. It said 60 per cent of Maoist violence was reported in Gaya,Jamui and Aurangabad districts.

The JIC also warned the security forces to keep an eye on CPI (Maoist) activities in Bihar and Jharkhand as reports suggested Maoist leaders in jails continued to aggressively guide the movement. Ex-politburo member Pramod Mishra reportedly operated from the Beur jail in Patna.

The report said given the soft-handling of the issues by Bihar police,the state could witness a major action not necessarily in a core party area.

The Maoist movement largely rests on issues of deprivation and the caste,classes most affected by it, it said.