Might of core group of Maoists reduced to 20 in 2014, says IB chief

Sustained operations against the Maoists have caused them to retreat. They are no longer the mighty force they used to be, as even the strength of their central committee has declined from 39 to 20 in 2014, says IB chief Syed Asif Ibrahim. K Anurag reports. 

Even in the face of rising terror incidents in Kashmir and the jihadi terror in Assam and Northeast, there’s still a reason to smile. According to the director of the Intelligence Bureau Syed Asif Ibrahim, Maoist activities are witnessed a downward trend and the situation in Jammu has improved considerably.

Speaking to the top brass of the police force at the DGP meet in Guwahati, Ibrahim said that the sustained operations against the Maoists had caused them to retreat. “Recruitment by Maoists has declined and a lot of members are now disserting the cause. The strength of the central committee of Maoists has declined from 39 members in 2004 to 20 as of  date,” he said.

The IB chief added that since their activities had reduced, this was the perfect time to formulate a fresh strategy to decimate and get rid of the movement once and for all from the country.

Speaking about Kashmir, the IB head said that the high turnout of voters during the first phase of polling reflected the changes and the improvement in security in the area. He said a conducive atmosphere for polling was created thanks to the measures taken by the security forces and their effective anti-infiltration measures. 

However, it was not all great news, as the situation in the Northeast continued to be fragile. Explaining the situation, Ibrahim said that insurgent outfits safely ensconced in neighbouring countries are compounding the problem. “The situation in the N-E region continues to be fragile due to the violent activities of (militant) groups outside talks (with government).”

He further pointed that safe sanctuaries for insurgent groups in the neighbouring countries, particularly in Myanmar, has compounded the security situation in the region.

He informed that National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Sangbijit faction) was  responsible of 85 per cent of insurgency related casualties in Assam this year while Garo National Liberation Army had remained a dominant trouble maker in Meghalaya, responsible for 75 per of  casualties and 45 per cent of incidents. He said Meitei insurgent groups in Manipur were responsible for 55 per cent casualties while in Nagaland internecine clashes among rebel groups for area domination had remained a cause of concern.

The IB chief added that active terrorism across the country’s border remained a challenge to internal security and stated that upsurge of terrorism in countries like Syria and Iraq posed a challenge for the country with a section of vulnerable youths being lured into ranks of those  terror groups.