Employing Sri Lankan insurgent outfit Liberation Tiger for Tamil Elam (LTTE)’s strategy, Naxals have begun using their women cadres to “trap” security forces in Chhattisgarh’s conflict zone of Bastar, intelligence sources said on Thursday.
Citing several such instances encountered by the security personnel in recent times, a senior intelligence officer said the latest strategy adopted by the Reds was aimed at “weakening” the forces psychologically, and then easily victimising them in the guerrilla warfare in the jungles.
The same tactics were employed by the LTTE against the Sri Lankan forces during insurgency.
The police officer, requesting anonymity, narrated how a large contingent of security personnel comprising CRPF jawans and the district force (DF) of the Chhattisgarh police had almost walked into the trap of the rebels at Risgaon in Kanker district when they ventured into the nearby forest after hearing cries of women at a distance.
The troopers were soon greeted by intense firing by the Naxals hiding in the jungle, leading to a fierce encounter. Fortunately, the forces somehow managed to escape unscathed.
In another incident, a couple of months back, in a forested area in Orcha jungle in Narayanpur district, security forces surrounded a Naxal hideout, catching the militants camping there off guard. But, the rebels then pushed the unarmed women cadres to the front, leaving the forces in an “ethical” dilemma as to whether to open fire on them.
Amidst the confusion, the Naxals, including the women cadres, managed to flee into the jungle.
“Security forces have been alerted about the new strategy adopted by the insurgents. We have also devised a plan to deal with the situation,” the police officer said refusing to elaborate further for apparently security reasons. “This clearly indicates that the Naxals have links with LTTE activists and have been getting training from the Sri Lankan terrorist group,” he added.