Naxals: Odisha now, what next? It’s time to crush them

First the Italians, and now an MLA. The Naxals are just getting bolder in Odisha. Negotiation is on and they might eventually release the captives but the developments bring the spotlight back on the Maoist menace in the forested regions of the country. This a problem that has been around for long with disastrous consequences on tribal and local officials by way of loss of lives. It is high time to deal with it conclusively. The kidnap of the Italians might attract negative international attention to the country. The Maoists are not known to target foreign nationals. Now that they have done it, the purpose could be to show India in a bad light globally. If, God forbid, there’s any physical harm to the Italians, India will have a lot of work on hand, controlling the fallout. With the international community keeping a hawk’s eye on the Naxal situation henceforth, it would be difficult for India to take any tough action on the ultras in future. [caption id=“attachment_254782” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“A man walks under a barricade pole installed to check passing vehicles by Indian forest officials at the remote district of Kandhamal. Reuters”]  [/caption] Internally, the situation is appalling. Not long ago, suspected Maoists had shot dead a Biju Janata Dal legislator, Jagabandhu Majhi, at a public meeting in Nawarangpur district of the state. Ironically, Majhi was scheduled to distribute land deeds to villagers when the incident took place. Jhina Hikaka, the MLA who was abducted today, is known for his fight for the rights of tribals. In response to the situation, the Centre in consultation with the state government has asked its para-military forces to stop anti-Naxal operations. The state has initiated back-channel efforts to get the foreign tourists released. The kidnapping of the legislator while negotiation for the release of the Italians points to a factional rivalry within the Maoist ranks. It is also believed that the kidnapping was the handiwork of the local unit of the outfit which had no support from its top brass. But it should bring little cheer to the Centre and the state as well. We are still nowhere close to solving the problem of Maoists, who have claimed more innocent lives than terrorists over the last few decades. It is now clear that the ultras are fighting neither for an ideology nor for the tribals nor the poor. They are a bunch of power-hungry people who want to keep their dominance over the tribal areas – the Red Zone – intact. That is the reason they won’t negotiate with the government or put out a clear set of demands. It suits their interest that no development work takes place in tribal areas. The horrors of Maoist kangaroo courts in tribal villages are well-known. Anybody who does not toe the line could be branded a police informer and meted out brutal punishment. Any potential rival to local leaders are dealt with an iron hand. The level of their preparation and quality of their arms suggest that they are not fighting for local interests, they are fighting a war against the nation. It only aggravates the matter that they get moral support from the bleeding heart Left intellectuals. Any harsh action against the Maoists is likely to create a furore over human right issues and put the government in trouble. Not too far ago, the Supreme Court ordered a halt to the salwa judum – a government-backed and tribal-led anti-Maoist operation – saying it set tribals against each other. The situation will continue without decisive intervention from the Centre and the affected states. It is not normal that such a vast tract of territory should remain outside the government’s control. There are talks of links of Maoists to international forces hostile to India. Thus there is a threat to the country’s security if the purposeless movement continues. Rest assured, there will be many repeats of the Odisha developments if no tough action is taken against the Left ultras. The country must deal with it urgently.