In the final push to finish Naxalism, Modi government is going to employ specialized anti-Naxal combat force called “Black Panther” on the lines of the Greyhound unit and set up ‘Bastariya Batallion’. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, after chairing a meeting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), informed the media that “Chhattisgarh will have a new force on the lines of the Greyhounds. It will be called Black Panther. Training (for the personnel who will be part of it) is being imparted and it would be launched soon.”
The Greyhounds are a special force of the Indian states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh that specialises in anti-insurgency operations against Naxalites and Maoist terrorists. Several senior Indian paramilitary and police officers have extolled the Greyhounds as the best anti-insurgency force specializing in anti-Maoist operations and experts in jungle warfare.
The government has also set up a new Battalion called ‘Bastariya Batallion.’ The battalion is named ‘Bastariya’ as the force consists of locals — both male and female — from Dantewada, Bijapur, Sukma and Narayanpur — some of the worst Maoist-affected districts in Bastar. Rajnath Singh said, “Naxalism and extremism are a challenge, but I want to say that this menace is now shrinking and losing ground.” Rajnath Singh was speaking at the passing out parade of the newly-formed Bastariya Batallion.
Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and many other states in India have faced the wrath of the armed Naxals for many years. Murderers waving red flags with guns in their hands destroying public property, killing police forces and other innocent people whom they consider as class enemies under the garb of protecting the rights of Proletariat- tribal people and poor people. The top leadership is using the Naxal movement as a vehicle to enrich themselves, while poor disillusioned youth are sent to sacrifice their lives in the jungles. It has been found that top Naxal leadership are diverting the funds and paying in lakhs to get engineering and medical seats to their relatives in private colleges. Poor tribals have suffered a lot because of Naxal Movement. Now they are raising their heads against the Naxalists and joining the security forces to curb the menace of Naxalism.
PM Modi led central government has decided to clamp down on the Naxal issue ever since it came to power. The anti-Naxal drive by the security forces under the command of the Union Home Ministry and the state police departments have achieved a big breakthrough this year. More than 70 Naxals have been killed in anti-Naxal operations this year alone while many others have surrendered. The most recent blow to the Naxals happened on the 22nd of April when more than 37 Naxals were gunned down by the forces in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. Naxals have been greatly reduced in presence over the past year to merely 58 districts. Having reduced the insurgents to their core areas, the government and the security agencies are now launching back-to-back assaults right in their den. As a result, the Naxals have been made to run for their lives. The security forces have a strategic advantage in the current situation leading to surrender by hundreds of insurgents. As per latest reports, a total of 60 Naxals including 20 women from Abujmarh have surrendered in the Naxal-hit state of Chhattisgarh.
On 29th March, 59 radicals including 16 women had surrendered in the Naxal bastion Sukama in Chhattisgarh. Earlier 10 Naxals had surrendered in Kondagaon district of Chhattisgarh. Similarly, 5 Naxals had surrendered in Gadhchiroli district of Maharashtra. The list is numerous and the Naxal operatives seem to be inclined towards giving up their arms and joining the mainstream rather than continuing a meaningless war. Government is hitting Naxals from all possible directions. En-masse surrender of Naxals means that the government is also winning the ideological battle. Government is harming them financially also. Recently, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has destroyed 500 acres of secret poppy of worth 55 crores in maoist affected area of Jharkhand.
Former BSF DG Prakash Singh once stated, “You choke their (Maoist) finance and ammunition and they are finished.” The government is countering the Naxals on all fronts including increased anti-Naxal operations, increased developmental work, and ideological front and choking Naxal finance. Under the leadership of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the security forces and the government seem to be winning at all the fronts and days of Naxals are numbered. Very soon, India will be Naxal free.
