Pulwama Attack 2019. Public memory is short, but I will like to trigger it from recent history. On 14 February 2019, a convoy of 78 vehicles transporting more than 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel from Jammu to Srinagar was travelling on National Highway 44. The convoy had left Jammu around three in the morning so as to reach Srinagar the same day before sunset. The reason for such heavy movement was that the Highway was shut due to heavy snow for the past few days.
At Lethpora near Awantipora, around three pm a car carrying explosives rammed into one bus killing all occupants i.e. 40 CRPF personnel of the 76th Battalion and injured many others. how the civilian car loaded with explosives managed to break into a secure convoy of 78 Police vehicles is clearly an intelligence and security failure.
Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the attack. It was the deadliest terror attack on India’s state security personnel in Kashmir since 1989.
The National Human Rights Commission makes it difficult for the security forces to operate.
The Hon’ble Supreme Court interferes in the choice of weapons such as pellet guns. There are cries of removing AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958) from insurgency prone areas. Interference by the Judiciary in matters of State Security and telling the Armed Forces how to do their job is a dangerous trend with disastrous consequences. For every dilution of Security as a consequence of the decision (directive) of the Hon’ble Supreme Court the Judiciary should equally share the blame and sorrow of loss of Security Personnel lives.
Has anyone wondered…
- Has anyone wondered, why were the Police personnel returning from leave were allowed to pile up at Jammu transit camp, when the roads were closed due to snow?
Was airlifting not an option? Was the top brass brain dead or trying to save extra expense on air travel? - Has anyone wondered, why the movement plan was so aggressive? Moving a convoy of 78 vehicles to cover a distance of 266 km and reach before sunset? Ideally smaller convoys with a break midway around Ramban for the night would be more practical. It is necessary the road is sanitized by the Road Opening Parties (ROP) before movement of troops. The ROP itself takes about two hours of daylight in the morning and winds up an hour before the end of daylight, thus reducing the window of safe travel.
- Has anyone wondered, why the car loaded with explosives went past checkpoints unnoticed? There is history to it. Once a Jawan at a check post fired at a car that did not stop. The occupant was killed, for doing his duty the Jawan was court martialed and given jail term. The message was to be lenient at check posts.
- Has anyone wondered, why the CRPF convoys were not controlled by senior officers?
With about 2500 Police Personnel there should have been a Commandant Level officers with sufficient subordinates interspersed in the convoy and would have noticed the free running explosive loaded civilian car.
2021 – MAOISTS – NAXALS. The Sukma-Bijapur Attack on 3rd April 2021
Attack by Maoist guerrillas in Sukma-Bijapur border of Chhattisgarh earlier this month needs immediate attention of Indians for the sake of Peace, Prosperity and ensuring our Police is not used as fodder due to mistakes by the Home Ministry.
The recent media remarks by the DG of CRPF is good to bring up the national morale, who said that the Police Force (after the massacre of 22 Policemen) are in high morale (post a well staged ambush), and want to get out of hospital and go back to fighting the Maoists. A policeman cannot be revengeful or angry, this is a dangerous fallout. The release of the COBRA commando in front of a large village gathering was equally well stage managed by the Maoists to demonstrate their authority in the area.
The claim by DG CRPF that the operation was planned on specific intelligence of a meeting by the Maoist Commander Madvi Hidma is to be taken with caution. Was information leaked on purpose by guerillas to draw the security forces (SF) deep inside, to frustrate them and then try an opportunity ambush when they are complacent and returning back?
That the security forces managed to kill the Maosist is no consolation. Claiming by the
Official figures that we also killed about 20 to 24 Maosist and lost 22 SF only shows a ratio of 1:1. Our training should give us an upper hand with a ratio of 1:8 (SF to Guerilla). But only one female guerilla body was recovered, and the Maoist claimed a loss of only 4. That is why the blame lies on the Government political Head – The Home Ministry. The fish rots from the head.
In Galwan one Colonel became shaheed alongwith 20 Martyres. If you notice Pulwama and Sukma-Bijapur episodes, the absence of Senior Officers comes to light. Planning in Boardrooms over attractive Powerpoints to impress Seniors and Political Masters is one thing and ground knowledge and presence of leadership upfront is another thing.
Once the SF were returning the cat was out of the bag. The movement was known. It was time to deploy all facets of surveillance and support from Drones to Satellite/ Thermal imagery. There is no mention of Canine being used to detect guerillas.
The capability of senior SF officers also becomes questionable. Is it only meritocracy which decides their annual confidential reports, promotion and appointments. What is the capability and maturity level of the Posting and Transfers branch. Is there political interference in their functioning? Inspector General (IG) (Operations) and Additional Director General (ADG) had gone to Chhattisgarh from Delhi to plan the big operation in the second week of March after the forces got input about the location of Madvi Hidma, a top Naxal of banned CPI (Maoist), around Bijapur-Sukma border area. Top officers of CRPF as well as local police along with senior Security advisor of MHA K Vijay Kumar were involved. Did the senior officers from Delhi get VIP treatment? Did they stay in Police Guest Rooms or Hotels? It is the caterer and the corner tea shop that notice Flag Cars with Dome Lights and Starred
Number Plates that pass on information – a strong source of information leak. The operation was however led by the second in command. Senior Officers later asked for Helicopter support, which could not land in the first attempt, but never thought of providing Combat Air Patrol (CAP) in the first place.
CRPF is a potent arm available with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to conduct free and fair elections. These are deployed on advice from the Election Commission. There is a latent interest by the Political party in Centre to ensure the SF so deployed are favourable to them, especially in States run by Opposition parties. That CBI is a caged parrot is no secret. It can be safely concluded that the appointment of senior officers in CAPF (CRPF) has political interference.
Naxalism thrives in areas covered with forests. If that be so, then the problem as well as solution lies right there. The problem is not prevalent in one state but amongst ten States. Majority of Naxals are poor and have never shown the urge to break away from the country. Most of them are tribals who on paper receive special rights and privileges but are actually subject to discrimination due to caste and cread. So what’s their problem and what are they fighting for.
The are many challenges faced by Tribals, but important ones are :-
★ The Forest Conservation Act of 1980. It deprives tribals of any right over their land. Majority of them live and sustain on forest produce but are deprived of ownership of land.
★ Due to development projects and mining operations in Naxal affected areas, tribals became more poorer and alienation kept growing. Successive Governments ignored their plight and blamed paucity of funds – unreliable of Vote-bank.
★ With mining projects commissioned in the 90s, massive displacement of tribal population took place. Mining business in the naxal affected states brought abundant fortunes for business class including State Governments, but no rehabilitation programs were envisaged for displaced. Some Governments tried but programs were merely lip service as the Forest Act denied any right to the displaced to till their land in the forest belt.
★ Local Mining Lords in convenience with political power brought more money and corruption, thereby exploits of innocent people became a routine and alienation grew stronger with each passing day.
★ Tribals felt they were robbed of their land and resources by the people whom they voted to power. A feeling which was exploited by their leadership.
★ Local mining mafia made it easy for them to muscle into tribal land, bribe forest guards so as to steal and sell their timber. Locals felt not only were they being denied their legitimate rights but their under the earth resources were too being drained. Moreover, States by now started treating Naxalism as a law & order problem.
★ State Governments consider Naxals as the problem of the Center. Shyness of fighting jointly under Central directions, especially by opposition held States stops them from deploying State resources jointly thereby denying an effective intelligence sharing amongst various Intelligence agencies.
★ Jungle warfare is a complex warfare. It needs a well trained, highly motivated force to fight the opponent. Naxals know their terrain like the back side of their hand. This is one single reason for successful ambushes launched by them on security forces and the high rate of casualty amongst SF.
What can be done? So where do we go as a Nation and what do we do. Solution is complex. It requires strategic planning rather than tactical, a strategy with mission & vision and with a defined timeframe. Some answers:-
- Violence on part of Naxals is no solution as more than a million(s) of them are affected. So the Intelligentia under the directions of the political class needs to get in touch with Naxals leadership to crack the ice for a broad framework of talks.
- We as Nation need to support the Central government to take bold initiatives, sit across the table with stakeholders including leadership which is behind the bars as most members of the Central Committee Politburo have either been killed or arrested. Announcing some concessions to give basic rights to affected populations can get the ball rolling. Politics on Naxalism can wait, cultivating tribals as vote bank too can wait. Nation comes first always and every time.
- Forest Act of 1980 requires amendments in the interest of its citizens or may I say in the interest of Tribals/Naxals.
- Political class especially The Prime Minister has to make the first move. Move which is bold and political.
- Since the problem is of our own citizens , so the Government has to wink first and steps for reconciliation are initiated. For this Center and Opposition needs to sit together in the same boat. Difficult no doubt, but in the interest of the Nation achievable. History has many examples.
- Grievances of the displaced population needs to be heard by the political class for reconciliation and rehabilitation. Nations can only progress if it’s citizens are happy and see a better future for themselves within its boundaries.
- Infrastructure building such as roads and schools on the lines of Navodaya Vidyalaya for tribal children can bring many tribals back to the mainstream. Education is the most potent tool for equality and prosperity. It can eradicate poverty in the long term. Freebies are good for short-term gains but to exterminate a decade(s) old problem, we need a solution which is just & fair for it’s subjects. The Delhi Government spends about 25% of its Budget on Education.
- Procurement of forest products needs a rethought and comprehensive plan. Extra income and eradicating disparity will bring back hoards of Naxals back to their mothers.
- Some kind of MSP for forest produce to stop exploitation may have to be envisaged for displaced tribals.
- Revamping of Central Reserve Forces to be led by efficient IPS class on ground may boost the morale of boots on ground. Officers led operations may be the call of the day. This will give the required impetus for efficient and effective operations based on real time intelligence.
- Better connectivity and development of the area is a precursor to normalization and eradication of Naxals and Maoist negative influence.
- Never, repeat never ever think of deploying the Army as a solution to end Naxalism as iron-fist policy. The problem is of citizens and would remain so for years. As per national statistics on crime, Naxal affected areas are in many ways less crime prone than other parts of the country.
What we must therefore guard is the enemy within and outside, never let it exploit the situation, a situation which has a solution. While Naxals would be celebrating their recent success, they need to understand the gunpowder of any nationalist Nation never dries up. What needs to be stopped is a cycle of violence, which is in the interest of Tribals, Naxals, and above all in the interest of this Great Nation.
[The author Lt. Col. Atul Chaudhary (V) I.A. has gained experience of dealing with terrorism and insurgency during his military career and has compiled the article based on hisknowledge on the gound. Credits a) Hello Bastar: The untold story of India’s Maoist
movement by Rahul Pandita b) Col Harjinder Singh,(R) Sena Medal. The views expressed in the article are personal of the author and “Saachi Baat” takes no responsibility]
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Lt. Col. Atul Chaudhary (V) I.A. |
