Step by step

Of the many obstacles in fighting Maoists,the most ironical is the law itself. While law and order is a state subject,Maoists are spread out across a host of states,and move easily from one jurisdiction to another. Their intimidation tactics to dominate territorially and destroy the infrastructure of local administration too makes them difficult to handle for the local police. Equally,Central paramilitaries deployed in combat zones cannot operate on their own. They must report to the local police,and since they dont have an intelligence wing,they must rely on the state for this too. Their role,as the CRPFs commander of anti-Naxal operations,Vijay Raman,says,is of a force multiplier,not contractors to have been given the job of exclusively rooting out Naxals. The recent killing of 76 security personnel,including 74 CRPF personnel,in Dantewada on April 5 further underlines the criticality of coordination between the state police and Central paramilitaries.

That lesson,it seems,is being heeded. Reports suggest that anti-Naxal operations all over the eastern corridor are drawing on tactics employed in Maharashtras eastern district of Gadchiroli. The so-called Gadchiroli pattern has two features. At one level,CRPF troops always move in tandem with the Maharashtra police; reports suggest that all operations have at least 30 per cent from the state police. At another level,there is increased intelligence-sharing and verification between the CRPF and the local police. As a result,Gadchiroli has suffered the least damage since Operation Green Hunt began.

There is perhaps another reason why Gadchiroli has fewer casualties. A state official attributes this to Maharashtras 700-strong local unit,called C-60,tasked with tackling Naxalites. Andhra Pradeshs proven success in reducing the Naxal presence within its boundaries is in no small measure due to a state commando force,the Greyhounds,whose local knowledge and structure are an invaluable resource. As Home Minister P. Chidambaram said in Lok Sabha on April 15,states have an equal,if not greater,responsibility to counter Naxalites. Locally trained units and closer coordination between the CRPF and state police are the way forward.