P: ISSN No. 2231-0045 RNI No. UPBIL/2012/55438 VOL.-IV, ISSUE-II, November-2015 E: ISSN No. 2349-9435 Periodic Research Naxalism: The Biggest Threat to India's Security

Abstract The biggest threat that the Indian Government faces today is Naxalism, which has infested itself in 83 districts across 10 states of the country. The root of the problem lies in the simplest of issues- marginalization of the poor forest dwellers by the very government that had sworn to protect them, as the very land that they depend on for their sustenance is snatched away. The government has been striving hard but has not been effective enough to solve this problem. are becoming more and more belligerent in central and south India. The merged outfit will build a powerful revolutionary movement and will continue its fight against social repression, inequality in south Asia and spread its views in entire world. In light of this, the paper aims to analyse the inextricable link between the behaviour of naxals, the intent of using violence against the state and propose interdisciplinary solutions. While the movement is mainly an internal threat, with globalization, external and internal security threats are inextricably linked. The complex and multi-faceted approach to solving the Naxalite issue also reflects the fact that this is the biggest menace to India's security in the future. Keywords: Naxalism, Biggest Threat, Indian Security Causes of Naxalism Naxalite- Maoist Insurgency. Introduction India having one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and being the most populous democratic country, has great potential to become a future superpower. However, in this increasingly globalised environment, India faces several threats to its security. A new challenge to our national security is fast emerging on the country's horizon in the shape of Naxalism problem, its phenomenal growth and spread into 83 districts Pratima Gangwar across 10 states. Naxalism is the biggest threat because it effects several Associate Professor & H.O.D., areas including the economy, security and foreign affairs, its citizens and Deptt. of Political Science, rule of law. It defies justification. They seem to be drawing their inspiration J. D.V.M, P.G. College, from the moist uprising in Nepal, which has provided them new zeal and Anandbaag , Kanpur motivation to replicate the same in India. They are becoming more and more belligerent in central and south India. Background The term Naxalite derives from Naxalbari, a small village in , where a section of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) led by and Jangal Santhal initiated a violent uprising in 1967. On 18 May, 1967, the Siliguri Kisan Sabha, of which Jangal was the president, declared their support for the movement initiated by Kanu Sanyal and readiness to adopt armed struggle to redistribute land to the landless. The following week, a share - cropper near Naxalbari village was th attacked by the landlord's men over a land dispute. On 24 May, when a police team arrived to arrest the peasant leaders, it was ambushed by a group of tribals led by Jangal Santhal, and a police inspector was killed in a hail of arrows. This event encouraged many Santhaltribals and other poor people to join the movement and to start attacking local landlords. Initially the movement had its centre in West Bengal. In later years, it spread into less developed areas of rural southern and eastern India such as Chhatisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh through the activities of underground groups like the Communist Party of India (Maoist). Mao Zedong provided ideological leadership for the Naxalbari movement, advocating that Indian peasants and lower class tribals overthrow the government and upper classes by force. A large number of urban elites were also attracted to the ideology which spread through Charu Majumdar's writings, particularly the 'Historic Eight Documents' which formed the basis of Naxalite ideology. The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs describes the objectives of Naxalites as destroying “State Legitimacy ….with the ultimate object of attaining political power by violent means. They are considered as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful 110

P: ISSN No. 2231-0045 RNI No. UPBIL/2012/55438 VOL.-IV, ISSUE-II, November-2015 E: ISSN No. 2349-9435 Periodic Research Activities (prevention) Act of India (`1967). Naxalites agricultural or forest based business, logging and have been attacking police establishments and timber felling or for tourism venture. Thirdly there were infrastructures such as public transportation, causing draconian laws regarding wild life protection and insecurity and instability to the area. The Naxalite are national parks and sanctuaries which forcefully active in approximately 40% of India's geographical excluded all habitations from vast areas notified under area. They control large portions of remote and these laws. Displacement of tribals turned them densely forested areas and are concentrated in an homeless, landless, resourceless and jobless. area called ''. This area is also the tribal Therefore, social unrest has emerged in the affected belt where the tension between economic areas. It manifests itself in defiance of the authority development and aboriginal land rights is most from simple form of demanding right of community apparent. management of forest to militancy. Causes of Naxalim Moreover, the policies of LPG (Liberalization, It is true that Naxalites got inspiration for Privatization and Globalization) initiated in 1991 their growth from the Maoist uprising in Nepal but acknowledged the social-economic inequality as the India’s social, political and economic conditions forced binding part of development process. The state’s anti- them to develop. After the independence various poverty programmes such as the NDA’s Food for programmes introduced for the rural area Work or the UPA’s Employment Guarantee development. But due to feudal nature of the Programme hardly meet the basic demand for land authority, complex, rules and regulations, corrupt rights in rural India. All these have kept the Naxal administrative dullness and the lack of general agenda alive. awareness like causes, the real benefit of Naxalism as the Biggest Threat development process limited few selfish groups and Naxalism highlights India’s interior people. weakness, which makes India also vulnerable to Fifty-eight percent of the Indian labour force external threats. The armed Naxalite groups have is still engaged in agricultural and allied occupations. largely expanded their influence zone and naxal Tribals are being pushed up the hills because of movement in India, is now recognized as a part of the illegal incursion of outsiders in their traditional domain. Maoist activism world over. Organizations like PWG, Dalits continue to swell the rankes of agriculture MCC etc. have established network with ideologically proletariat which is increasing in an alarming way. similar organizations in Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan Neo-liberal development process totally by-passed and Srilanka under the aegis of Coordination them. Not only that the invasion of the corporate Committee of Maoist Parties and Organizations of sector into agriculture and forestry and enhancement South Asia (CCMPOSA). Moreover, all these South of ceiling limits on land in some states has Asian Maoist Organizations and Parties are also exacerbated the incidence of landlessness with the members of an international organization called the consequential rise in the free floating mass of the rural Revolutionary Internationalist Movement (RIM). poor moving around in search of employment This Naxalism is not only a law and order problem has depressing effect on rural wages and has but a direct result of under-development. Today 83 aggravated causalisation of labour on terms grossly districts across 10 states in the country are affected infavourable to them. by Maoist violence. These are among the most Extension of general laws and their backward areas of the country where poorest of the accompanying institutions to the scheduled Tribal poor live. Civil administration appears to have areas created a hiatus between the modern laws and withdrawn from seriously affected areas leaving the their agencies and the traditional mode of tribal life people to fend for themselves. There is an urgent and living style. This resulted in a conflict between the need to improve the lot of the people in tribal and traditional systems and formal institutions, especially backward areas. The Naxalite movement in West with regard to the rights of the tribal people over land Bengal was launched from a strategically located and resources on which they had subsisted for territory called ‘Naxalbari’. This northern portion of the centuries without formal ownership deed or title. This state of West Bengal is situated some 30 to 50 miles crisis has been further aggravated by influx of from Sikkim, Tibet and Bhutan in the north, from individuals and corporate bodies into the tribal domain Nepal in the west from Bangladesh in the east. Before and their takeover of tribal lands and other natural 1971, Bangladesh was the eastern wing of Pakistan resources which traditionally gave sustenance to and, obviously, it was governed by Islamabad until it tribals. achieved independence. The strategic significance of The tribals lost their control of traditional this area of about 100 square miles lies in the fact that livelihood resources through several state actions. it is precisely located at the point of India’s narrow First is the forest reservation policy which declared west corridor, 13 to 14 miles wide which connects the forests, degraded forests, waste lands on the main portion of India’s land mass with its north- periphery and even partly arable lands as reserved western states and territories of Assam, North-East forests where human habitation was prohibited. These frontier, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura. There is reserved areas sometimes included villages which significant evidence to establish the fact that this area were allowed to continue without any right or title and has attracted the attention of external powers and which supplied free or cheap labour to prest adjoining states who wished to create difficulties for department and to forest personnel. The second India externally as well as internally. means of alienation was the leasing of forest lands to Timeline of the Naxalite-Maoist Insurgency 2002 the corporate sector for mining, processing industries The people's War Group (PWG) intensified 111

P: ISSN No. 2231-0045 RNI No. UPBIL/2012/55438 VOL.-IV, ISSUE-II, November-2015 E: ISSN No. 2349-9435 Periodic Research its attacks against politicians, police officers and land 2009 and business owners in response to a July ban In 2009, Naxalites were active across imposed on the group by the Andhra Pradesh approximately 180 districts in ten states of India. The government. An estimated 140 people were killed in south Asia Terrorism Portal reported 998 killed in the fighting between the PWG and government forces conflict: 392 civilians, 312 security forces and 294 throughout the year. According to government reports, rebells. 482 people have died during the conflict that year. 2010 2003 During February the Silda camp attack killed 24 The conflict in Andhra Pradesh intensified as paramilitary personnel of the Eastern Frontier Rifles in Naxalite rebel groups, in particular the PWG, an operation the guerrillas stated was the beginning of continued guerrilla attacks on police and government 'Operation Peace Hunt', the Maoist answer to the targets while the security forces stepped up counter government that was recently insurgency efforts. According to independent media launched against them. According to crisis watch and reports, as many 500 people were killed in the conflict various news sources, between 500 and 600 people of this year where half of these Maoist rebels. were killed this year. Of those killed, approximately 2004 366 were civilians, 188 were government troops and Sporadic, low intensity fighting between the 27 were Naxalites. PWG and government forces continued for most of 2011 the year. More than 500 people were killed in The continued violence in 2011, the most sporadic, low-intensity fighting, a reduction from recent central government campaign to contain and previous years. Most victims were members of the reduce the militant Naxalite presence appears to be police forces or the Telugu Desan Party (a regional having some success, the 2011 toll of 447 civilians party). and 142 security personnel killed having been nearly 2005 50% lower than the 2010 toll. Fighting was reported in 12 states covering 2012 most of south, central and north India with the In mid-March, Maoist rebels kidnapped two exception of India's northeast and northwest. More Italians in Orissa. They later released one, while the then 700 people were reported killed this year in govt. of Orissa negotiated for the release of the violent clashes. Over one third of those killed were second. The Maoists released the second hostage in civilians. the middle of April. On 27th March, an explosion 2006 blamed on Maoist killed 15 Indian policemen in Maoist attacks continued, primarily on Maharashtra. government and police targets. Civilians were also 2013 affected in landmine attacks affecting railway cars and The 2013 Naxal attack in Darbha Valley truck conyos. In 2006, 500 to 750 people were resulted in the deaths of around 24 Indian National estimated killed, fewer than half Naxalites and Congress leaders including the former state minister approximately one third civilians. Mahaendra karma and the Congress 2007 chief Nand Kumar Patel. Fighting continued between Naxalite Maoists 2014 and government security forces throughout the year. 1. 28 Feb., 2014: six police personnel, including a The majority of hostilities took place in Chhattisgarh SHO, killed in Maoist attack in Chhattisgrarh. which turned especially deadly when over 400 2. 11 March 2014: 15 security personnel 1 civilian Naxalites attacked a Chhattisgarh police station, were killed in Chhattisgarh Naxal attack in seizing arms and killing dozens. According to news Tongpal Village. reports, this conflict resulted on 650 deaths during 3. 11 May 2014: 7 police commandos killed in 2007; of these 240 were civilians, 218 security Maoist landmine blast in the forests of Gadchiroli personnel and 192 militants. district of Maharashtra. 2008 2015 Civilians were most affected in the ongoing 1. 11 April 2015: 7 Special Task Force (STF) fighting between Maoist rebels and government personnel were killed in a Maoist ambush near security forces. Of the 16 states touched by this Kankerlanka, Sukma, Chhattisgarh. conflict, Chhatisgarh and Jharkhand were the most 2. 12 April 2015: 1 BSF jawan was killed in a Maoist affected. South Asia, Terrorism Portals' fatality count attack near Bande, Kanker, Chhattisgarh. across the six states that saw the majority of the 3. 13 April 2015: 5 Chhattisgarh Armed force fighting (Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand Maharasthra, Jawans were killed in a Maoist ambush near Chhatisgarh and Andhra Pradesh) was 794. This Kirandul, Dantewada, Chhattisgarh. included 399 civilians, 221 security force personnel and 174 insurgents.

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P: ISSN No. 2231-0045 RNI No. UPBIL/2012/55438 VOL.-IV, ISSUE-II, November-2015 E: ISSN No. 2349-9435 Periodic Research Deaths Related to Violence Period Civilians Security Forces Insurgents Total per period 1989-2001 1,610 432 1,007 3,049 2002 382 100 141 623 2003 410 105 216 731 2004 466 100 87 653 2005 524 153 225 902 2006 521 157 274 952 2007 460 236 141 837 2008 399 221 214 834 2009 586 317 217 1,120 2010 713 285 171 1,169 2011 275 128 199 602 2012 146 104 117 367 2013 123 83 136 342 Total 6,615 2,421 3,145 12,181

According to the BBC, more than 6000 'unapologetically indifferent to their plight'. By people have died during the rebels 20-years fight communicating and starting a dialogue between these between 1990 and 2010. stakeholders, these groups will feel that they being Based on the above displayed statistics, it can listened to. By opening dialogue, the government can be determined that more than 12, 180 people have give opportunity for the rebels to join the mainstream been killed since the start of the insurgency on 1980, by showing them that solutions can be created of which more than half died in the last ten years. together with the government, by being part of the Conclusion political system in a legitimate way. They no longer As we have seen, problems in terms of ignoring need to resort to violence to get the state's attention. socio-economic ends lead to the Naxal movement For example, the former Director-General of AP which in turn adopted violence. The movement lost concluded that as a result of the ceasefire and the opportunity to make itself clear because of the dialogue with Maoists in 2004, the violence in the violence, the state takes it as a security issue or a law state decreased by 80-90 percent in the region. and order problem instead of an ideological political Currently, the main instrument employed by the struggle. In order to comprehensively dissolve the government to address the Naxalite threat is the Naxalite threat, the government has to address its increasing use of the military. While some military is root causes. Socio-economic alienation and the still needed to combat against the Maoist guerrillas, it dissatisfaction with the widening economic and should not be the only solution. By only addressing political inequality will not be solved by military force the issue by brute force, government risks alienating alone, which seems to be the main instrument civilians who are caught in the middle. Coercion of employed by the government. The problem calls for a the state will only encourage people to rally against it. three pronged solution-social and economic The growing Naxalite insurgency also development, multi-lateral dialogue and military force. reflects a flaw in the federal structure. Because law As the Naxalites are fuelled by discontent and order is seen as a state responsibility, the central from the marginalised and the poor, a larger government is unable to be implement a coherent percentage of the national budget must be allocated national strategy to address the threat. The to addressing the needs of these regions. More of the Government has the overall responsibility of national expenditure needs to be focused on mobilising development, but it cannot do so without developing these poorer regions through initiatives the support of the states. The central Government regarding health, education, social welfare and rural and the states need to cooperate together to solve the and urban development. Government service delivery internal security threats and coordinate the should be improved in these tribal areas. Both state implementation of this multi-dimensional approach. and government must ensure that things such as Both organisations must complement and support statutory minimum wages, access to land and water each other's initiatives and strategies. sources initiatives are implemented. In coming up To conclude, the Naxalite problem reflects with strategies for national economic growth, the underlying issues in the Indian social, economic and government must always bear in mind the possible political institutions which threaten to expose India to effects of fast growth for all socio-economic groups in even more danger from outside forces. While the a country as large and diverse as India. If the social Naxalite movement is mainly an internal threat, with needs of these marginalised people are addressed, globalisation, external and internal security threats are there will be no discontent to fuel the Naxalites inextricably linked. The complex and multi-faceted movements. approach to solving the Naxalite issue also reflects The government should initiate sincere the fact that this is the biggest menace to India's dialogue with these marginalised groups, the security in future. Naxalites and state leaders. The popularity of Naxalites with the adivasis is a reflection of the fact that the government has been unaware or 113

P: ISSN No. 2231-0045 RNI No. UPBIL/2012/55438 VOL.-IV, ISSUE-II, November-2015 E: ISSN No. 2349-9435 Periodic Research References 11. Gopal, M., 'Naxalism in India: Framework for 1. Banerjee, S., On the Naxalite Movement: A Conflict Resolution, USI Journal Vol. CXXXVI, Report with a Difference.' Economic and Political No. 566, Oct-Dec, 2006. Weekly, 2008, Vol. 43 (21), PP. 10-21. 12. Gupta, S., Insurgency: A Conceptual Overview, 2. Bhaumik, and Subir., ‘India's Maoists Ready for Indian Journal of Strategic Studies, Vol. XVII, Talks’ BBC News, Retrieved, 2010-02-10 and 1993. 2010-05-20. 13. ‘India's Maoists Offer Ceasefire’. BBC News, 3. Behera, M., ‘Challenges of Naxalite Violence in 2010-02-22. Retrieved 2010-05-20. Orissa’, South Asian Politics, New Delhi, May, 14. ‘Maoist Killed Seven STF Jawans in 2008, PP. 14-18. Chhattisgarh’ The Hindu. April 11, 2015, 4. Banerjee, B. L., ‘Moist Movement in India-Bengal Retrieved April 14, 2015. ‘Naxal Conflict Monitor’ Naxalbari’, Economic and Political Weekly, July Asia Centre for Human Rights, Vol. II, April-June, 22, 2006, PP. 3154-3163. 2006. 5. 'BSF Jawan killed in Naxal attack in 15. Prasad, K. M., 'Naxalism; A Challenge to the Chhattisgarh'. The Hindu, April 13, 2015, Proposition of Peaceful Transition to Socialism, Retrieved April 14, 2015. The Indian Journal of Political Science, Vol. 6. Gupta, B. D., The Naxalite Movement, New Delhi XXXII, No. 4, Oct-Dec 1972. Allied Publishers. 1974. 16. ‘Seven Police Commandos Killed in a Naxalite 7. Fatalities in left - Wing Extremisem- 2011, Attack in Maharashtra’ IAMS News. Retrieved 11 Retrieved 26 Oct., 2014. May, 2014. 8. Fatalities in left - Wing Extremisem- 2012, 17. Singh, P., ‘The Naxalite Movement in India’. New Retrieved 20 Oct., 2014. Delhi, Rupa and Co., 1999. 9. Fatalities in left - Wing Extremisem- 2013, 18. Sen, S. K., ‘Peasant Movements in India: Mid- Retrieved 20 Oct., 2014. Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries’ Calcutta: K. 10. Gupta, A. R., ‘The Naxal Problem- Need for Good P. Bagchi, 1982. Governance’, South Asian Politics, New Delhi, 19. Singh, S. K. ‘Terrorism: A Global Phenomenon’ Nov. 2007, PP. 37- 41. Author Press, New Delhi, 2000.

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