Maoists Encounter in Chhattisgarh

• 31 Jan 2024

Why in News?

Recently, 3 security personnel were killed and 14 others were injured in an encounter with Maoists along the Sukma-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh.

Key Points

• According to the official statement, the incident took place near Tekalgudem village during a search operation by a joint team of security personnel.
• A new camp of security personnel was set up in Tekalgudem, a Maoist stronghold.
• After setting up the camp, the personnel belonging to the Special Task Force, District Reserve Guard and Commando Battalion for Resolute Action [CoBRA- a jungle warfare unit of CRPF (Central Armed Police Forces)] were searching nearby Jonaguda-Aliguda villages when Maoists opened fire.
• Sukma District:
  • It is located in the southern tip of the state of Chhattisgarh, the district was carved out of Dantewada in the year 2012.
  • It is covered with the semi-tropical forest and is a mainland of tribal community Gond.
  • One major river that flows through the district is Sabari (a tributary of Godavari river).
  • Over a few decades, this region has become a fostering ground for Left Wing Extremism (LWE) activities.
    • Uneven terrains and the tricky geographic locations made this region a safer hideout for the LWE activists.

Left Wing Extremism in India

• Left-wing extremists, popularly known as Maoists worldwide and as Naxalites in India.
• The term Naxalism derives its name from the village Naxalbari of West Bengal. It originated as a rebellion against local landlords who bashed a peasant over a land dispute.
  • The rebellion was initiated in 1967, with an objective of rightful redistribution of the land to working peasants under the leadership of Kanu Sanyal and Jagan Santhal.
• The movement has spread across Eastern India in less developed areas of states such as Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
• It is considered that Naxals support Maoist political sentiments and ideology.
  • Maoism is a form of communism developed by Mao Tse Tung. It is a doctrine to capture State power through a combination of armed insurgency, mass mobilization and strategic alliances.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)

• It is one of the premier Central Armed Police Forces of India (under the Ministry of Home Affairs) for internal security.
• Originally constituted as the Crown Representative Police in 1939, it is one of the oldest Central paramilitary forces. After Independence, the force was renamed as the Central Reserve Police Force by an Act of Parliament on December 28, 1949.
• Its Mission is to enable the government to maintain Rule of Law, Public Order and Internal Security effectively and efficiently, to Preserve National Integrity and Promote Social Harmony and Development by upholding supremacy of the Constitution.