Even though investigations so far have ruled out any direct involvement of Naxal outfits in the recent violence at Maruti’s Manesar plant, intelligence agencies have come across credible information that Maoists are indeed planning to target major industrial hubs.
According to intelligence sources, recent inputs suggest the Naxals have directed their cadre and sympathisers to shift base to major industrial hubs and then infiltrate important production units and factories.
After the Manesar incident, the Union ministry of home affairs had done a thorough review, at the home secretary level, of a possible Naxal angle to the incident. During this review meeting, MHA officials were informed that the Haryana police was looking into the possibility of the involvement of Naxal elements.
In the run-up to this review meeting, the Intelligence Bureau had informed the MHA that the threat of Naxals infiltrating major industrial hubs was “very real”.
Sources said intelligence agencies have been sending regular reports on the growing influence of Naxals in new areas, including Haryana.
Intelligence agencies have been sending regular reports on the growing influence of Naxals in new areas, including Haryana, according to sources.
“Obviously much of this movement has been to new areas, particularly those that have witnessed rapid industrialisation, like Haryana, parts of UP, Maharashtra and other areas. And there have been inputs to this effect. These states have already been sounded out about this aspect,” a senior ministry of home affairs official said.
Intelligence agencies have also informed the MHA that Naxals feel it is much easier for their cadre to join industrial plants in the guise of workers and then infiltrate the unions to get a grip on the region’s economic activities. “The game plan is simple. The Naxals want to get a complete grip on economic and industrial activities. From their point of view, it’s a very good strategy,” the official added.
The Naxals, sources added, have already asked their network of sympathisers and overground workers in urban centres to start working on this strategy.