Red Terror Strikes in Western Orissa

Of late, the Sambalpur district of Orissa has become a hotbed for Naxal activities. After a period of silence, the rebels have again managed to strike terror, and this time, they have attacked, killing civilians. Late last month, on May 27, the Maoists went on a rampage and killed three villagers and injured several others in the Burda village under Jujumura police station. Before this, Maoist activities were only confined to abductions followed by ransom. The incident came as a shock as the Maoists generally targeted the police, forest officials, contractors and other businessmen. 

This incident has been considered important concerning the course of Naxal growth in the underdeveloped and tribal-dominated Western Orissa. The timing of the incident speaks volumes about Naxals' greater aims and ambitions in the region. The incident came barely nine hours after an important meeting of high-level police officers held at Sambalpur district headquarters to discuss problems related to Left-wing extremism in the area. It signals the Naxal game plan of defying the Government and creating an environment of terror and suspicion. 

Earlier in May, the village headman of Chhamunda village council was abducted and was released only after he signed a bond paper to pay Rs.4 lakhs to the rebels. However, the police failed to take notice of this development, and the failure on their part was largely responsible for subsequent killings. The residents and eyewitnesses of the incident alleged that the police also failed to act in time on that fateful night. Another important thing that has come out of this incident was the determination of the local people. The Naxals went to the village just before midnight looking for the headman, Jayram Bhoi, and to their surprise, they found the whole town came in for protest. This is no small thing, and the administration must notice it. Because till now, the Naxal movement has survived with the support of rural, underdeveloped tribals. After this incident, the government must wake up and try to win over the locals in their favour.

For long, Naxal activities in Western Orissa were considered as a spill-over from Jharkhand. However, things have changed for the worse, and now the Maoists have created a red corridor from the Saranda forest of Jharkhand to the Rairakhol forest in Orissa. Earlier, it was confined to some parts of Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj, but now the Maoists have put their foot in different parts of Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Deogarh and Anugul. The success of all countermeasures in these areas needs proper coordination among the officials of Orissa and Jharkhand. They must devise a joint strategy to fight the Maoist threat, but this seems to be lacking. So far, it has been alleged several times that in the name of anti-Naxal operations, the Jharkhand police harassed the residents of the border villages of Orissa. This has been a constant cause of worry for the local populace, which the Naxals are successfully exploiting in their favour.

It’s high time that the administration must understand that the Maoists are no ordinary criminals, nor is Naxal a common law and order problem. The administration must be mentally and logistically well-prepared to solve the problem and fight the extremists. Over the last three years, the Naxals have strengthened their position in the tribal districts of Orissa. With their activities, the Naxals have managed to spread the message of terror among the innocent villagers of the area. In this situation, it is the foremost duty of the police and administration to restore confidence among the local people. For this, the police have to act fast, which is challenging. It is necessary to strengthen the intelligence-gathering system of the police, and the modernization of the police force is equally important. So far, the Maoists have been banking on the support of the local tribal and poor rural people.

Nevertheless, the solution to the ongoing problem lies with a formula of social development along with immediate replacement of the prevailing atmosphere of violence, terror and suspicion. Its time for the Government to correct past wrongdoings, at the same time it must not allow the rebels to create an atmosphere of fear and terror. The government must work on a development, efficiency, equity and justice strategy. Let these meaningful words not only be part of the Indian Constitution; instead, let them be the keywords for a brighter tomorrow free from all sorts of violence and counter-violence.