The arrest of Maoist leaders in Jharkhand has given an insight into their method of recruitment which could range from assistance with money and medicines to coercion at gunpoint.
The Jharkhand police also have a proposal to recruit cooks who would accompany them on operations making it unnecessary for forces to return to the base camp before fulfilling their mission.
"If a cook is attached to a company they can set out for operations against Naxalites deep in the jungles and stay there till the operation ended," Pradhan said.
The state government has advertised for 374 cooks and 195 water carriers for police stations and for accompanying the forces.
The police also revealed Naxalites' modus operandi.
"They approach poverty-stricken homes to get people into their fold. They often begin by giving financial help to families in difficulty and also provide medicine in case someone falls ill," Inspector General of Police (Hazaribagh) B B Pradhan said.
The recruitment method of Maoists, who often eat in the houses of villagers, includes not only money and medicine, but also coercion.
"Once a Maoist squad ordered meals from a family in a village, when they saw a young girl there. The squad leader forced the family to let their daughter join the women's wing of the ultra-left outfit. The family had little choice, but to give in," he said.
After gaining confidence of villagers, the Maoists start preaching how the 'haves' dominated and exploited the 'have-nots'.
"They compare the standard of living and amenities of the rich and the poor in towns and rural areas and tell the villagers that they were being ignored by the government," Pradhan said.
"The Maoists also lure youth saying that their physical needs will be addressed as the outfit has girls too," he said.
The police, to counter the Maoists are holding street plays and have introduced community policing.
"The recent arrests of certain Maoist leaders have revealed their style of recruitment," said Pradhan, under whose jurisdiction Naxal-infested districts like Bokaro, Hazaribag, Koderma and Giridih fall.
Eighteen of the 24 districts in Jharkhand were Naxal-infested and almost every day operations were taken up against them.
The police arrested two politburo members of the ultra-left outfit in the last six months.
