Forces lack understanding of Naxal tactics: Security Experts

NEW DELHI: The latest back-to-back Maoist attacks in Chhattisgarh have security experts again blaming counter-Naxal forces' lack of understanding of their adversary's "dynamic evolving" tactics.

They point to the reluctance in the forces to match the Naxals' superior knowledge of jungle terrain. This, alongside excessive caution against aggressive patrolling and area domination, out of fear of hitting civilians, has helped Left-wing extremism score.

Former home secretary G K Pillai blamed the forces' complacency during lull periods in counter-ops for the success of Naxal strikes. " A month of silence from Maoists, the forces relax... but it only means they're planning a tactical change.

Counterforces have to keep reworking strategies," he said, adding the central forces' numerical advantage over Mao ists "is lost if Maoists aren't kept under constant pressure".

Development must be on war footing when an area is secured: roads, bridges built, schools, hospitals set up, "needed to counter Maoist propaganda," Pillai said.Counter-ops' strikes can't be only in response to an attack, arguing for "a 5-10 years target to decimate the Maoists' leadership".

Former Chhattisgarh DGP Vishwaranjan said fear of casualties can't be made a sticking point in anti-Naxal ops. "They encircle the enemy before going for the kill -it's well known ambush leads to heavier casualties," he said, pointing out that Naxalites go down fighting and that is not highlighted. Praising the elite commando force, Andhra `s Greyhounds, the ex-DGP said the forces must master jungle survival.

"They must learn to decipher where an ambush can be laid," he said, adding that counter-forces fail to update tactics.