Maoist Menace: Ultra-leftist militancy bleeds India

While West Bengal tries hard to regain control over Lalgarh that has been declared free zone by Naxalites, the Maoist insurgency has emerged as the biggest threat to country.

The Marxist-ruled West Bengal faces an uphill task to cleanse the tribal-dominated region in West Midnapore district, of the Maoist ultras. But Lalgarh is just a symptom of the disease that afflicts vast parts of the country.

The latest Naxalite strike in Orissa in which nine policemen died in Koraput district had signalled that Maoist extremism is the toughest challenge for the security agencies.

The deaths due to leftist insurgency far outnumber those in other terrorist attacks. In less than a month, nearly 50 policemen have been killed by Naxals in five states of the country.

On June 13, Naxalites had blown up an anti-landmine vehicle that was carrying policemen in Jharkhand. Eight police personnel were killed while six others were injured.

Just two days ago the Maoists had set off a landmine blast in West Singhbhum district killing 11 policemen on the spot. Ten more policemen were wounded in the attack.

In Chhattisgarh, half-a-dozen citizens and policemen have been killed this month. The deadliest attack had come in Maharashtra where nearly 70 strong CPI (Maoist) cadre had killed 16 policemen including five women personnel in Gadchiroli.

TIH Bureau