The big picture

Figures are often quite telling,if not in absolute terms,at least comparatively. While approximately 210 civilians and 215 security personnel fell to leftwing extremism in 2008,this year already about 130 civilians and 180 securitymen have died,and that excluding Lalgarh and despite the near erasure of Naxalite violence in Andhra Pradesh. As per the new plan,the government will promote development in the Maoist-affected areas and review its approach towards tribal laws in order to meet legitimate local demands. This will help eradicate socio-economic deprivation in the long term. But as the figures argue,Maoist violence is also,and primarily,a law and order problem. To ensure that development gets the promised security cover,the government must actuate its planned counter-offensive along the Jharkhand-Orissa,Jharkhand-Orissa-West Bengal,and Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh borders,securing the area first and then beginning the developmental activity.

The operations will reportedly begin soon. Nevertheless,they will come a cropper if security forces are not in adequate numbers. The home ministry should expedite the rationalisation of paramilitary deployment in Naxal-affected areas vis-à-vis Jammu and Kashmir. Also,since such largescale operations need the collaboration of state police forces,affected states must immediately equip their policemen who lack the firepower and knowledge of terrain to match the Maoists. As India prepares to vanquish the Maoists,it must also plug holes that enable them to procure arms from its neighbours.