Chhattisgarh’s Director General of Police, Anti-Naxal operations, D.M.Awasthi in an exclusive interview with The Hindu said that the Maoist insurgency could not be tackled only with a military approach.
“If we are able to give credible policing to the people of Maoist-affected areas, it will result in an atmosphere of security, which will result in development with a great speed and the people will come to the government’s fold. The Maoist insurgency will vanish only if we are able to win the hearts of common people living in these areas,” said Mr.Awasthi who took over as the first DGP of ANO five months ago.
Full transcript of the interview
What is the situation in terms of combat in Bastar?
In terms of combat, the situation of Bastar has improved drastically. There were places in Bastar, known to be Maoists’ strongholds, where Chhattisgarh police or security forces could never operate. But now our forces are much more confident and have started going to these areas and the future is definitely better. There is a need of some important changes and improvements strategically. We will work on it in next six months. I should not elaborate on the strategy but the operations should be specific and intelligence based, not general operations.
There are some patches in Bastar like south Sukma or Narayanpur which continue to be Maoist strongholds.
There are some areas which are vacant but you will see changes in next few weeks. There had been operations in south Sukma and Narayanpur as well.
With you as DGP ANO and Mr.Sadanant Date as Inspector General the CRPF, there appears to be a change in operational strategy. The local forces are leading operations and the CRPF is providing back up.
Yes, this is a change in our strategy and for past six months, we have been working on that only. We are using our own forces and the CRPF is in support. Sometimes we have used their forces like CoBRA. But mostly our forces, the district police, the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF), are leading the operations. The DRG is a force made up of local boys. Every day there are operations going on now. We are using the CRPF in a different way. In last six months, we have not used them in major operations but we have taken their help for long patrolling and they have arrested many Maoist cadre. They have been helping us in making roads and recovering land mines. This was the change strategically. They are strong at ROPs (Road Opening Patrol) and detection of landmines and they have done well. A record number of IEDs were recovered in last six months by the CRPF and operationally we are using the STF, the DRG and sometimes the COBRA.
You are fighting a mobile army, which does not have a headquarter. But you are fighting it in a traditional way.
We have come a long way. Yes, they have their army and it has given casualties to us. But you have to fight like this way only. They are here for many years. They have geographical knowledge plus local support. Security forces started coming to this area quite late. We will take time to reach to their core areas. But we have already had many operations against this mobile army.
Has this tactic of putting up security force camps in the interior areas been successful? There were three major attacks on these camps in last one year. Ranapal camp in Narayanpur was attacked recently.
See the Ranapal camp also helped in constructing an important bridge in that area. Without this camp would, the bridge was not possible. The camps are not limited to operational purpose but are helping in carrying development activities as well. More and more camps are connecting interior areas. Until and unless you develop these areas and take people into the mainstream, the Maoist insurgency cannot be defeated. A lot of development has taken place in last six months. This (Maoist) ideology came here because of under-development. But things are changing with a great speed now.
Tribals don’t seem to be believing the idea justice of the Government of India?
Maoism is a socio-economic problem. Educated people from Bastar are trying to come up and they believe in the constitution. The problem is tough terrains. The tribals were dependent on these forest produces but these days one cannot sustain on it completely. You need education and medical help. I don’t think only the police can solve this problem. The police can provide an environment where development can be brought. Communication, education, and health need to be focused on and the government has focused on it. The situation has improved drastically. I have seen Bastar since 1989. If you give people of this area employment, they would not go the Maoists’ way. Look at the way they have voted for mainstream political parties during elections. But many things need to be done. The process is gradual because the Maoists also came in gradually. I don’t believe in the strategy that the increase in the number security forces will eliminate Maoism. Optimum force and optimum operations are required.
Before you took over as DGP ANO, there were open differences between the ANO and police machinery in Bastar. What is the situation now?
Our strategy is clear. The SPs plan operations under the guidance of the IG and the police headquarters gives them intelligence and support strategically. Our work is to direct and monitor them (police machinery in Bastar). We have brave police officers there. The police headquarters from Raipur cannot plan operations but we can provide inputs and directions. The police team in Bastar is the core team and I am an extended part of it. I have been telling them to do good things and get the support of the common public. There is no question on non-coordination from any side now. The SP Sukma is the best person to tell about the situation of Sukma than me. There is a very good coordination now.
There have been instances of alleged atrocities on women and human rights violation and fake encounters and allegations are against forces. Is it not shaking common public’s faith in security forces?
These things should not have happened. I have issued written instructions also. The state is the protector of the people. If we catch a Maoist, he should be arrested. It is really inhuman to kill anybody even if he is guilty. The constitution and the law do not provide us that power. But when there is fire from the Maoists, we should retaliate. I condemn the misbehavior with ladies and fake encounters. If it is propaganda, we should not worry but if it is true, guilty people should be punished. The police are not above the law. We have been given certain duties and responsibilities and I believe in an honest police working whether it is during operations in forests or city policing. Nobody is allowed to misbehave with the common man and even for the criminal, we should not kill them in fake encounters.
There was a crackdown on human rights lawyers and journalists a few months ago in Bastar and Bastar IG Mr.SRP Kalluri made some controversial statement about it?
Nobody should be arrested without evidence. But the police are helpless once the case goes to the court. For journalists, the government has formed a screening committee. As far as statements (of IG Kalluri), those are personal statements. I personally feel, if everything is alright, transparency should be maintained. Many people may be having different views than us but that does not give us the power to harass or arrest them. We are listening to everyone and so is the government. We will look into the complaints. The eviction and harassment of those girls (Jagdalpur Legal Group) are not good. It should not be done and was not done by the police. Mr.Kalluri’s comments are his individual comments.
Mr. Kalluri was also seen on the platforms of Samajik Ekata Manch and Vikas Sangharsh Samiti (formed by former Salwa Judum men).
IAS and IPS officers have been asked to refrain from going to political programs. There have been strict rules and regulations. But in operational areas, things are totally different. Going to these programs may not be advisable but some movements were created by common people. But police officers should not be seen taking the side of one organization. You should be seen listening to Jagdalpur Legal Aid group and the Samajik Ekta Manch equally. Maybe a counter-propaganda was on their (police officers) mind. But the police cannot go hand in hand with criminals. Even a constable is not allowed to move with criminals.
There has been a huge spurt in the number of Maoist surrenders since June 2014 but some of these cases were questionable.
I cannot comment on past things,but I have written to the SPs that surrenders should be strictly according to norms. The numbers are not important. There should be quality surrenders. Surrender is very good if those are genuine. It is always better than killing. Arrests are also good.
What about frontal Maoists' organizations in Chhattisgarh?
We have a list of more than 15 organizations in Chhattisgarh. All have been banned and we keep on having surveillance on some organizations which are not banned. At present, there is no frontal organization in Maoists affected areas of Chhattisgarh.
What will be the ANO’s focus in future?
You can not combat Maoism with the military approach only. The police and military approach should create a sense of security and faith among the people. We should behave in a very good manner even during operations. If we do this, I call it credible policing. I have told my SPs. If we are able to give credible policing, definitely an atmosphere of security will be nurtured and development will take place with a great speed and people will come to the fold of government. Maoism will take back step once we win the hearts of common man. Credible policing is the only solution.
