04-08-2008, 01:29 PM
<b>Hitech action against Maoists yields results - Pioneer</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Rakesh K Singh | New Delhi
67 Maoist terrorists killed, 176 surrender in 3 months
Actionable intelligence, surveillance on the movement of the cadre of outlawed militia through helicopters and satellite images are helping the security forces in flushing out militants from the jungles in large numbers through well-coordinated anti-Maoist operations.
In the first three months this year, anti-Maoist flush-out operations launched after the Nayagarh raid by the ultras, as many as 67 Maoists have been killed, 6,230 kilogram of explosives and about 39,000 live ammunition and 1,157 arms have been recovered in 40 encounters with the security forces.
While 176 extremists have surrendered before the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) till March 31 this year, the paramilitary forces have also sustained losses, including 12 casualties, injuries to 10 personnel, loss of 10 arms and over 900 rounds of ammunition.
The CRPF has also recovered 252 grenades from the Maoists in joint operations in the Maoist-affected States of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
While 20 Maoists were eliminated by the Orissa police after the operations launched against the ultras after the Nayagarh incident, another 18 militants/Left extremists were killed in joint operations by the security forces of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. The CRPF has eliminated another 29 Maoists in anti-Maoist operations from January to April 1 this year.
Apart from satellite images, helicopters are being used to trace the movement of Maoists in dense forest areas for carrying out the flush-out operations, a senior CRPF official said, adding that instructions were issued by the Central Government following the Nayagarh incident and a noticeable increase in the casualties of the security forces at the hands of the ultras last year.
As many as 236 security force personnel were killed last year in contrast to 105 such casualties in 2003, 100 in 2004, 153 in 2005 and 157 in 2006. Conversely, the number of Maoists eliminated by the security forces reduced from 274 casualties in 2006 to just 141 in 2007.
However, civilian casualties decreased slightly from 521 in 2006 to 260 in 2007, according to the latest status paper on internal security of the Union Home Ministry.
In 2007, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand together accounted for 68 per cent of the total incidents (1565) and 76 per cent of the total casualties. Higher number of incidents and casualties in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand is attributed to increased use of improvised explosive devices by the Maoists.
Anti-Maoist drive
In 40 encounters, 6,230 kilogram of explosives and 39,000 live ammunition and 1,157 arms have been recovered from Maoists.
CRPF lost 12 jawans; injuries to 10 personnel, loss of 10 arms and over 900 rounds of ammunition.
Apart from satellite images, helicopters are used to trace Maoists.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Rakesh K Singh | New Delhi
67 Maoist terrorists killed, 176 surrender in 3 months
Actionable intelligence, surveillance on the movement of the cadre of outlawed militia through helicopters and satellite images are helping the security forces in flushing out militants from the jungles in large numbers through well-coordinated anti-Maoist operations.
In the first three months this year, anti-Maoist flush-out operations launched after the Nayagarh raid by the ultras, as many as 67 Maoists have been killed, 6,230 kilogram of explosives and about 39,000 live ammunition and 1,157 arms have been recovered in 40 encounters with the security forces.
While 176 extremists have surrendered before the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) till March 31 this year, the paramilitary forces have also sustained losses, including 12 casualties, injuries to 10 personnel, loss of 10 arms and over 900 rounds of ammunition.
The CRPF has also recovered 252 grenades from the Maoists in joint operations in the Maoist-affected States of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
While 20 Maoists were eliminated by the Orissa police after the operations launched against the ultras after the Nayagarh incident, another 18 militants/Left extremists were killed in joint operations by the security forces of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. The CRPF has eliminated another 29 Maoists in anti-Maoist operations from January to April 1 this year.
Apart from satellite images, helicopters are being used to trace the movement of Maoists in dense forest areas for carrying out the flush-out operations, a senior CRPF official said, adding that instructions were issued by the Central Government following the Nayagarh incident and a noticeable increase in the casualties of the security forces at the hands of the ultras last year.
As many as 236 security force personnel were killed last year in contrast to 105 such casualties in 2003, 100 in 2004, 153 in 2005 and 157 in 2006. Conversely, the number of Maoists eliminated by the security forces reduced from 274 casualties in 2006 to just 141 in 2007.
However, civilian casualties decreased slightly from 521 in 2006 to 260 in 2007, according to the latest status paper on internal security of the Union Home Ministry.
In 2007, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand together accounted for 68 per cent of the total incidents (1565) and 76 per cent of the total casualties. Higher number of incidents and casualties in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand is attributed to increased use of improvised explosive devices by the Maoists.
Anti-Maoist drive
In 40 encounters, 6,230 kilogram of explosives and 39,000 live ammunition and 1,157 arms have been recovered from Maoists.
CRPF lost 12 jawans; injuries to 10 personnel, loss of 10 arms and over 900 rounds of ammunition.
Apart from satellite images, helicopters are used to trace Maoists.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->