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Looking Backwards

A bloody crackdown on Naxalites in the south-eastern fringes of Uttar Pradesh proves that only developmental programmes, not guns, can help fight the menace. INDIA TODAY's Special Correspondent Subhash Mishra explains why.

When 15 Naxalites were killed in a massive police operation in Mirzapur of Uttar Pradesh earlier this month, the state Government had reason to be happy. Having long been at the receiving end, the police had finally managed to cut into the formidable network of the Naxals in villages along the state's fringes in the south-east. But with the news of the breakthrough came a stark reminder: that these forgotten villages some 1,000 of them in the three districts of Mirzapur, Sonbhadra and Chandauli were as backward as they could possibly get. The Naxals writ coupled with the Government's apathy had, over the years, ensured that nothing, least of all hope, could spring from these barren lands.

If you wanted to see Somalia, you've come to the right place, laughs A.K. Prasad, superintendent of police of Sonbhadra. But there is no humour as he speaks. Without roads, power, potable water, health and educational facilities, conditions in villages like Maajhi in the district, he explains, are pathetic.

In Naugarh of neigbouring Chandauli district, the buildings of the lcoal primary school and primary health centre are a telling image. Only cows and buffaloes can be found here because, as any passerby will tell you, these buildings have been converted into shelters for them. In 1993, when two starvation deaths were reported in the region, then governor Moti Lal Vora had despatched a high-level delegation to assess the situation and moot measures for upliftment. But nothing changed since.

Most of the region cannot be cultivated because of its rocky terrain and lack of water. The Scheduled Caste Musahars and Khalwars, who comprise the local population, are among the most backward sections of society. Victims of exploitation by land owners, they can do little to fend for themselves. According to V.K. Dubey, who runs the National Council of Development Communication, an NGO, even mahua, a liquor plant which comprises the locals staple diet, gets scarce as most of the plants are under the control of landlords.

Driven to desperation, the villagers have begun to seek succour in the Naxal movement which spilled over from neighbouring Bihar. Landless people not only provide shelter to the Naxals but also join their ranks in the hope that they can fight the militant outfits of the landlords. Many of them are armed with lethal weapons and bloody battles between the landless and the landlords are becoming a common affair.

Naxal groups like the Bihar-based Maoist Communist Centre have created a wide network of its supporters in Uttar Pradesh and have even appointed area commanders and sub-commanders who run a parallel army to ensure justice to the locals. Large contingents of the police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in these areas but as Vipul Kumar Srivastava, circle officer of the Mandihan police, points out, We are under constant threat at the hands of the Naxalites.

Only recently, Devnath Kol, a dreaded Naxal, targeted the father of police constable Govind Yadav because Govind had dared to take part in a combing operation against the Naxalites. In the Mirzapur crackdown which followed the incident, it took the police over four hours and 600 rounds of firing to overpower the Naxalites. When 15 of them were eventually killed, angry villagers claimed that not all those killed were Naxalites. The Left parties too joined in and threatened to launch a statewide agitation to protest against the brutal massacre of innocents. The death of a 15-year-old boy, Kallu, in the firing added fuel to the issue.

What we feel is that the boy might have been killed in the crossfire. He may not have vacated the house in which the Naxalites were hiding despite our repeated requests, says Vinod Kumar Singh, inspector-general of police, Varanasi. Avinash Chandra, police superintendent of Mirzapur, however, claims that there is no doubt over the identity of those killed and that all of them were naxalites.

Despite the controversy, the crackdown did boost the morale of the police but they have no illusions. Only serious welfare programmes, not guns, they know, can help fight the Naxal menace in the state.

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