Fighting an invisible and faceless enemy, the central para military forces (CPMF) deployed in the Maoist hotspot of tribal Bastar face numerous odds?language problems, lack of intelligence inputs and coordination with the state police, no proper training in jungle warfare and inability to win the confidence of the local people?making them more vulnerable to attacks from the highly motivated Maoist rebels.
In the five districts of tribal Bastar region?bigger than Kerala and many other states in geographical terms?17 battalions of the CPMF and one battalion of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) are deployed to take on the uniformed Maoist guerrillas, who are supported by many ?sangams?, the village level supporters of the rebels. The sangam members extend logistic support to the rebels and also form part of the strong Maoist intelligence network.
Official sources said four battalions of the CRPF and two battalions of the Border Security Force (BSF) are deployed in the hyper-sensitive areas of Dantewada district, a region that has emerged as a Maoist hotbed particularly after the launch of the anti-Naxalite ?Salwa Judum? in June 2005. Similarly, three battalions of the CRPF are deployed in Bijapur district, followed by one CRPF battalion in Narayanpur, two CRPF battalions in Bastar, five BSF battalions in Kanker and one CAF battalion in and around Jagdalpur, divisional headquarters of Bastar.
The worst-ever Maoist attack on CRPF personnel between Chintalnar and Tadmetla?in the Konta development block that led to the killing of 75 CRPF personnel and a head constable of the state police ?has brought into sharp focus the issues plaguing the para-military forces fighting the rebels in an unknown, forested and hostile terrain.
While the state police and CRPF top brass are still visiting the site and corroborating statements of the seven survivors to find out what went wrong on that day, police insiders pointed out that some time ago, the word had spread that the rebels were planning to strike at a few police stations, located on the national highway and other main routes, in Bastar district. Subsequently, the police machinery too felt that these police states were vulnerable and steps were initiated to strengthen the security. ?Now it is being suspected that the rebels themselves had spread such a word in order to divert police attention towards Bastar district while they were preparing themselves for a major strike in the remote forest location in Dantewada in South Bastar?, they say.
?Konta block has been a safe haven for Maoists as it shares borders with four states?Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and borders always remain a weak point?, says former director general of Madhya Pradesh police AN Singh, who served this region in the undivided state.
?A force like the CRPF has got many limitations, particularly when it is deployed to take on the Maoists, that too in a forest terrain like Bastar. They do not have proper training in jungle warfare. The climatic conditions in the forests are horrible during summer and only those who are acclimatised to the humid conditions in the forests could stay there and fight such a war?, he added.
Singh pointed out that lack of knowledge of the local Gondi and the region?s other tribal dialects was a major factor that contributed to the problem of para-military personnel, who find it difficult to gather intelligence inputs from time to time.
?Since the Gondi dialect is somewhat close to Telugu, there has to be some recruitment of Andhra Pradesh cadre officers, who know the local dialects, for the purpose of intelligence gathering?, he said, adding that there also has to be greater coordination with the Grey Hounds in the neighbouring state.