Manish
Naxalite is an informal name given to radical, often violent,
revolutionary communist groups that were born out of Sino-soviet split in the
Indian communist movement. Ideologically they belong to various trends of
Maoism, Naxal, Naxalite and Naksalvadi are generic terms used to refer to
various militant communist groups operating in different parts of India under
different organizational envelopes. In the eastern states of the mainland India
(Chhattisgarh,
Jharkhand, West Bengal & Odisha), they are usually known as or refer to themselves as
Maoists, while in southern states like Andhra Pradesh they are know under other
titles. They have been declared as a terrorist organization under the unlawful
Activities (Prevention) Act of India (1967)1.
The term ‘Naxal’ derives from the
name of the village Naxalbari in West Bengal where the movement has its origin.
The Naxals are considered far- left radical communists, supportive of Maoist
political sentiment and ideology. Their origin can be traced to the split in
1967 of the communist party of India (Marxist), leading to the formation of the
communist party of India (Marxist-Leninist: ML) leaders of the movement have
been found to have hideouts Located in China.2 Initially the
movements had its centre in West Bengal. In later years, it spread its less
developed areas of rural southern and eastern India, such as Chhattisgarh,
Odisha and Andhra Pradesh through the activities of underground groups like the
communist party of India (Maoist).3 In last 10 years, it has grown
mostly from displaced tribal’s and Natives who are fighting against
exploitation from major India corporations and local officials whom they
believe to be corrupt.
In 2006 India’s intelligence agency, the RAW estimated that 20,000 armed cadre Naxalites
were operated in addition to 50,000 regular cadres4 and their
growing influence prompted Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to declare them
to be the most serious internal threat to Indian’s national security, ever
faced by our country.5
In February 2009, the Indian central government announced a
new nationwide initiative, to be called the “Integrated Action Plan” (IAP) for
broad, coordinated aimed at dealing with the Naxalite problem in all affected
states (namely Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal). Importantly this plan
included funding for grass-roots economic development projects in Naxalite
affected areas, as well as increased special police funding for better
containment and reduction of Naxalite influence in these areas.6
In 2009, Naxalites were active across approximately 180
districts in ten states of India.7 In august 2010, after the first
full year of implementation of the national IAP program, Karnataka was removed
from the list of naxal affected states.8 In December 2011, the
National Government reported that the number of Naxalite related deaths and
injuries nationwide had gone down by nearly 50% from 2010 levels.9
In Naxalibari village a section of communist party of India
(marxist-CPI(M)) led by Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal led a violent uprising
in 1967, trying to develop a “revolutionary opposition” in opposition to the
official CPI(M) leadership. Majumdar greatly admired Mao Zedong of China and
Advocated that Indian peasants and lower classes must follow in his footsteps
and overthrow the government and upper classes by force, which he held
responsible for their plight.10
Mao Zedong provided ideological leadership for the Naxalbari
Movement. A large number of urban elites were also attracted to ideology, which
spread through Charu Majumdar’s writings, particularly the ‘Historic Eight Documents’ which formed the basis of
Naxalite Ideology. In 1967, Naxalites organized the All India Coordination
Committee of communist Revolutionaries (AICCCR), and later broke away from CPM.
Violent uprising were organized in several parts of the country. In 1969, the
AICCCR gave birth to the communist party of India (Marxist-Leninist) CPI (ML).11
These conflicts go back to the failure of implementing the 5th
and 9th schedules of the constitution of India. In theory these
schedules provide for a limited tribal autonomy with regard to exploitation
natural resources on their lands, e.g. pharmaceutical and mining) and land
ceiling laws’, Limiting the land to be possessed by landlords and distribution
of excess land to landless farmers and laborers’. The cast system is another
important social aspect of this conflicts.12
Large section of the Naxal movement
began to question Majumdar’s leadership.
In 1971 the CPI (ML) was split, as the Satyanarayan Singh revolted
against Majumdar leadership. In 1972 Majumdar was arrested by the police and
dies in Alipore Jail. His death accelerated the fragmentation of the movement.13
In a Methodical study, Sailen Debnath has surmised the consequences
and reasons of failures of the Naxalite movement organized by kanu Sanyal and
Charu majumdar. He writes – “the Naxlite movement, though continued intensively
from 1967 to the middle of the 1970 and resurfaced after some years.
Today, some Naxalite groups have become legal organizations
participating in parliamentary elections, such as the communist party of India
(ML) Liberation, the communist party of India (Maoist) and the communist party
of India (ML) Janashakti.14
Recent Activity : In 2007, naxal violence
has been reported form 509 police station’s in 11 states which works out to
5.8% of the total number of police
Stations in these states. Available reports however, suggest that CPI (Maoists)
have been trying to increase their influence and act in parts of Karnataka,
Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand and also in new areas in some of the already
affected states.17
on April 6, 2010 Naxalites launched the most deadly assault
in the history of the Naxalite movement by killing 76 security personnel. The
attack was launched by up to 1000 Naxalites in a well-planned attack, killing
an estimated 76 CRPF policemen in two separate ambushes and wounding 50 others,
in the remote Jungles of Chhattisgarh’s Dentewads district. On 17 may, Naxals
blew up a bus on Dantewada – Sukhma road in Chhattisgarh, killing 15 policemen
and 20 civilians.15
In late 2011, Kishenji, the military leader of communist
party of India (Maoist), was killed in an encounter with the joint operation
forces, which was a huge blow to the Naxalite movement in eastern India.
In March 2012 Maoist rebels kidnapped two Italians in the
eastern Indian state of Odisha, the first time westerners were abducted there.
Most recently on 25 May 2013, Naxalites attacked a rally led by the Indian
National Congress in Sukma village in Bastar Chhattisgarh, killing about 29
people. They killed senior party leader vidya Charan Shukla in the attack.16
Cultural
References :
In the novel The God of Small
Things by Arundhati Roy, there is a reference to a character joining the
Naxalites. In 1974 Ramon Magsaysay Award winner Mahasweta Devi worte Hajar
Churashir Maa giving a ideological and sympathetic support to the
Naxalites. The British musical group Asian Dub Foundation has a song called
“Naxalite”. A 2005 movie called Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Directed by
Sudhir Mishra, was set against the backdrop of the naxalite movement. Chakravuyah,
a film by Prakash Jha, was released in 2012. It revolves around the theme of
Naxalites, but received critical feedback for allegedly showing sympathy for
Maoists.
The naxalite movement continues to persist in terms of
spread, intensity of violence, militarization and consolidation, ominous
linkages with subversive/secessionist groups and increased efforts to elicit
mass support. The naxalites operate in vacuum created by the absence of
administrative and political institutions, espouse the local demands and take
advantage of the disenchantment prevalent among the exploited segments of the
population and seek to offer an alternative system of governance which promises
emancipation of these segments from the clutches of ‘exploiter’ classes through
the barrel of gun.
Consolidation:
After the merger of communist party
of India (ML), Peoples war Group and Maoist communist centre of India (CPML-PWG
and MCC-I) into CPI (Maoist) in sept. 2004, they are reported to be trying to
woo other splinter groups and have also consolidated their front organization
into “Revolutionary Democratic front” (RDF) to intensity their mass contact
program. Fresh recruitment of cadres is also reported. And now schools are
being the latest focus of attention. Their aim here is to create ‘Bal-Dasta’,
or child squads. Indian Naxalite groups continues to sustain their fraternal
and logistic links with Nepalese Maoists.18
In the recent past, naxalite groups
seem to lay greater focus on organizing along military lines. They are also
acquiring contemporary weapons. Their constant effort is to upgrade technology
and sophistications of their weaponry and techniques. The latest tactic adopted
by naxal outfits are to engage in simultaneous multiple attacks in large
numbers particularly against police forces and police establishments. This has
led to increased casualties of Police personnel.
Policy
to deal with the Naxalite Menace:
1.
Naxalism
being an inter-state problem, the states should adopt a collective approach and
pursue a coordinated response to counter it.
2.
Keeping
in view that naxalism is not merely a low and order problem, the policy of the
government should adopt such a policy which addresses this menace
simultaneously on political security, development and public perception
management fronts in a holistic manner.
3.
The
state will need to further improve police response and pursue effective and
sustained police action against naxalites and their infrastructure individually
and jointly.
4.
The
state govt. will need to accord a higher priority in their annual plans to
ensure faster socio-economic development of the naxal affected areas.
5.
Mass
media should also be extensively used to highlight the futility of naxal
violence and loss of life and property caused by it and developmental schemes
of the Govt. in the affected areas so as to restore people faith and confidence
in the Govt. machinery.
6.
Involvement
of NGO’s is also required.
Counter Measures :
There
is an urgent need to further improve and strengthen police response by
improving actionable intelligence collection and sharing mechanisms.
The govt. should
take some measures to control the naxal problem - i.e.
i.
Revision
of security related expenditure.
ii.
Modernization
of state Police.
iii.
Supply
of mine protected vehicles and helicopter.
iv.
Effective
implementation of Land reforms and creation of employment opportunities in the
naxal areas and strengthen it.
v.
Monitoring
mechanisms and implementation of National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC).
Reference
Book:
1.
Unlawful
Activity Prevention Act. 1967.
2.
The
Times of India, 8 October, 2011.
3.
Panday,
Snehil Birth and Growth of Naxalism, Feb, 29, 2012, P.1.
4.
“Maoist
who menace India”. International Herald Tribune.
5.
“Ending
the Red Terror.” Economist, 25 Feb, 2010,
6.
Coordinated
operations to flush out Naxalites soon, the Economic Times. 6 Feb 2009.
7.
Handoo,
Ashok, “Naxal Problem needs a holistic approach.” Press Information Bureau, Retrieved,
08.08.2009.
8.
Karnataka
no longer Naxal infested.” The times of India, 26 August 2010.
9.
‘Historic
low’ in terror, Naxal Violence, Times of India. 31 Dec. 2012.
10.
Kapoor,
Bishan, Naxalism : Ideology of violence.
11.
Hindustan
times.com, PTI : Dec, 15, 2005.
12.
Rammohan,
E.N. ‘Unleash the Good Force’, outlook India, edition July 16, 2012.
13.
Singh,
Prakash. The Naxalite Movement in India, Rupa & Co., New Delhi, 1999,
P.-101.
14.
Ramakrishnan,
Venkitesh, The Naxalite challenge. Frontine Magazine, 21.09. 2005
15.
Districts
affected by Naxalite violence – South Asia Politics Magazine.
16.
Newindianexpresse.com,
31-05-2013.
17.
Naxal
conflict Monitor, April – June, 2007, P. no.-2.
18.
Nayak,
Nihar, Society for the study of peace and conflict, Dec. 2, 2004.
Manish
Lecturer (Political
Science)
Govt. of NCT. Delhi
Research
Scholar
B.N.M.U.,
Madhipura
E Mail:
choudhary_plato@yahoo.co.in
