India - Plans on for major anti-Maoist offensive in Bastar

CRPF and the State police remain divided on who would lead the operations in the coming days.
The Chhattisgarh police and central security agencies are gearing up for a major anti-Maoist offensive in restive Bastar region of the State in the coming weeks. According to sources, a major anti-Maoist operation might be launched anytime now, but the CRPF and the State police remain divided on who would lead it. “Inspector-General of Police, Bastar range, S.R.P. Kalluri is keen on operating with the DRG (District Reserve Guard) which consists of mostly local Koya boys. However, the CPRF wants to operate with the CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) with some help from the DRG,” said a senior police officer based in Bastar. National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval also visited Bastar earlier this month signalling the Union government’s approval for large-scale operations. Mr. Doval visited Burkapal CRPF camp in Sukma district and also held a meeting with senior police and CRPF officers posted in Chhattisgarh.
The NSA reportedly took an aerial survey of the Maoist insurgency hit region. “But the meeting in presence of the NSA ended without any resolution on who would lead the offensive,” added the officer requesting anonymity. An officer, known for his ruthless ways of working, reportedly questioned about the motive of the operation in the meeting. The officer even assured his top bosses present in the meeting that if the purpose of the anti-Maoist operation was to bring the Maoists then he could bring “dead bodies” with some surgical operations. Around 500 men of Chhattisgarh police, mostly based in Sukma and Dantewada district, were sent for a special 45-day guerrilla training in Assam in June and July this year.
The first batch returned in September and second batch returned 10 days ago. The first batch has already started moving in Maoist territories of Sukma. “Ultimately, the district Superintendents of Police (SP) of the respective districts would take a call on who would conduct the operations. But the CRPF, which was quiet after the transfer of IG H.S. Sidhu out of Chhattisgarh, has started moving in Sukma,” informed a senior police officer based in Raipur. Usually, very few anti-Maoist operations are conducted during the rains, but November and December witness big movement of security forces in the area.

“However, this time the operations would be properly planned and coordinated. All district of Bastar would witness operations against the rebels but the main target is the Battalion area in Sukma and its chief Hidma,” informed another source. The Maoist battalion is based in Konta division of Sukma and has inflicted massive causalities on security forces since 2008. Special Security advisor (internal security) K. Vijay Kumar also visited Bastar earlier this week.