No overnight solution to Maoist insurgency, Centre tells Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The Centre has told the Supreme Court that there is “no quick fix or overnight” solution to the Maoist insurgency, and put the onus for controlling Naxal violence on state governments, listing nine areas in which they need to improve.

“Maoists have managed to entrench themselves in certain parts of the country because there was a security vacuum and development vacuum in these areas,” the home ministry said in an affidavit to the apex court.

“The Union of India is now addressing the situation through various measures, which will take some more time to reach a criticality. Hence, there is no quick fix or overnight solution to the Maoist insurgency and the solution has to come through protracted and persistent efforts.”

This was in response to a notice issued to it on a PIL seeking directions to the central and state governments to formulate a central policy against the insurgency.

The ministry has said central legislation to deal specifically with Maoists may run counter to the federal structure of the country but has suggested to the apex court that views of the nine Naxal-affected states be sought on the specific concerns flagged in the Centre’s affidavit.

The ministry said the SC may consider a “proper time-frame” to address such issues, “which will go a long way in eradicating the Maoist problem.”

The issues on which states need to take action, as per the Centre, are creating a network of police stations; upgrading counter-insurgency skills of their special forces and efficacy of their intelligence units; upgrading jungle warfare training institutions; taking action against Maoist front organizations in towns and cities; creating surrender and rehabilitation mechanisms; putting in place a proper transfer and posting policy for cops; better implementation of development schemes; re-examining the “large number of rejected claims” of title deeds under the Scheduled Tribes and Forest Dwellers Act.

The Centre said states need to take legal action against urban front organisations of the Maoists, terming them as the main source of recruitment of underground cadres and dissemination of ideology.