Authorities are reportedly planning to “suspend” the ongoing anti-Maoists operations in Chhattisgarh in view of the monsoon, highly placed sources in the state police headquarters said here on Sunday.
Sources said road clearance parties have been finding it difficult to advance into the forests of restive Bastar division in Chhattisgarh following incessant rainfalls, forcing the security personnel, engaged in anti-Maoist operations, confining themselves in their bases.
“It is risky to move in Bastar forests, heavily mined by the Left-wing ultras, during the rainy season. It is virtually impossible to undertake demining operations in inundated areas. Hence, Bastar forests become more dangerous during the monsoon,” sources added.
“The anti-Maoist operations in Bastar have, no doubt, slowed down considerably after the monsoon set in. We will be forced to suspend operations, when the monsoon fully sweeps the region,” a senior police officer told this newspaper on condition of anonymity.
The police sources said security forces were planning to review the anti-Naxal strategy, keeping in view the changed situation. The need for revisiting the strategy was felt after the combing parties found the Naxal hideouts in the forests deserted during the recent operations.
“Usually the ultras abandon their hideouts during monsoon (July to September) fearing landslides. It is also risky for the security forces to conduct raids in these places for the same reason. What we need to do during the period is to try to hold on to ground, ceded from the Maoists, and not allow them to regain it,” the police officer said.
He, however, said the security forces continued to “advance their forward bases” (meaning making inroads) in the Red Zone of Bastar region, comprising five districts of Dantewada, Bastar, Kanker, Bijapur and Narayanpur to gain as much ground as possible before suspending operations for monsoon.