Maoists have often targeted the CRPF personnel which has suffered high causalities. In an attempt to give back answers to the government, they are continuously attacking the forces in turn raising several questions. The response of central and state governments has been reactive so far. In one of the deadliest attack on Monday in Chattisgarh, at least 25 CRPF personnel were killed by Maoists near the Burkapal camp in south Sukma while out on duty to provide protection for road construction on the Dornapal-Jagargunda belt. The Chief Minister Raman Singh and few CRPF personnel claimed that 10 to 12 Maoists were killed in the CRPF retaliation.
This is the second Maoist attack in less than two months in Sukma district. As many as 12 CRPF men were killed in March near Bhejji village. With such recurring attacks, the pressure is mounted on central government, which has now asked security forces to go on an “all-out offensive” against Maoists and “show results in the next few weeks”. Maoists are constantly targeting the same place and the reason for this has raised few questions.
Chattisgarh’s Dandakaranya spans the districts of Bastar, Dantewada, Sukma districts, Andhra Odisha Broder (AOB), Malkangiri of odisha. A majority population in this region are Adivasis and as such the region is not particularly developed. The tribes have to go on foot for several miles to get educational and medical facilities. Added to that their lives are widely influenced by traders. Apart from the geographical advantage and forest cover, the lack of basic amenities helped the Maoists to gain strengthen in the region. For a decade now, the center and state governments, to wipe out Maoists, are doing combing activities.
Security forces and AP greyhounds in AOB and Malkangiri, are going ahead with a strong strategy to curb Maoists. CRPF base camps have been setup in the Dandkaranya three years ago, which are constantly conducting searches. Apart from that, they are developing the region by providing basic amenities, food and sports facilities to the Adivasis. The government is also trying to get into the region with socio-economic development as agenda. Sukma has seen a lot of road construction in the last couple of years. The Kalapathar region between Chintagufa-Burkpal districts is a junction to the three districts. The roads being laid in this region will ease the connective between villages.
This has threatened the Maoists who are constantly targeting the forces. Subsequently to protect their shelter zone, they are launching attacks CRPF. The decreasing hold over Chattisgarh Dankaranya is seen as a reason for Maoists to attack the Jawans.