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Journalism of Courage
To improve anti-Maoist strategy,it is important to understand its failures as well as its successes
After Saturdays Maoist attack on a Congress convoy in Chhattisgarh,which resulted in at least 27 deaths,talk has expectedly come round to a toughening of the anti-Naxal strategy. While there had been a significant decline in the intensity of Maoist violence through the last year,consolidating a trend visible in 2011,this attack is a throwback to the April 2010 ambush of a CRPF patrol that saw 76 security personnel killed in Dantewada although the men in uniform were not the primary target this time. Plans are afoot to enhance security for politicians on hit-lists and increase counter-insurgency operations,even as the air force prepares to provide helicopter support in Jagdalpur and a debate rages about the lack of intelligence coordination and the reported failures of the NTROs Heron UAVs to gather data.
Victory against the Naxals is about reaching the state where its absent,reclaiming the ground and peoples lives. That is why any mainstream political activity is a sign of the insurgents shrinking space. As strategy is modified in the Darbha failures aftermath,it is important to bear in mind its successes too. The real challenge is to build on those successes.
