Naxal attacks declines, intensity increases

New Delhi, Sep 26: Even though the number of naxal attacks in the country declined from 1171 last year to 1013 in the first eight months of 2006, the casualty of policemen, civilians and naxalites have increased during the period indicating the increased intensity of the attacks with Chhattisgarh emerging as a major centre of naxalism.

Chhattisgarh topped among the states in having maximum number of naxal attacks and casualties while Andhra Pradesh, the traditional bastion of naxalism, showed a decline. Significantly, top naxal leaders in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar have been neutralised by the security forces which have crippled the movement in these two states, according to home ministry sources.

Overall, number of naxal attacks in the country declined from 1171 in the first eight months of 2005 to 1013 till August this year. However, Chhattisgarh witnessed a sharp increase in the number of naxal attacks during the period from 265 in 2005 to 469 this year. Andhra Pradesh, though, showed a positive trend as the state recorded only 132 naxal attacks this year as compared to 412 in the first eight months of last year.

However, the increased intensity of naxal attacks this year was evident from the fact that 115 policemen were killed as compared to 94 last year. Among the 115 policemen killed this year, 66 died in naxal attack in Chhattisgarh alone which has emerged as the epicenter of naxalism in the country. Last year, only 21 policemen had been killed in the naxal violence in Chhattisgarh. While in Andhra Pradesh the number of policemen killed has declined from 16 last year to ten this year.

The number of civilians killed has increased from 364 last year to 401 till August this year and Chhattisgarh again topped the list with 248 civilian casualties. Last year only 66 civilians were killed in the state.

Meanwhile, in Andhra Pradesh the civilian casualties have declined from 149 last year to 22 this year.

Naxalities have also suffered more this year as 170 insurgents were killed by the police and security forces in the country this year as compared to 144 last year. In Chhattisgarh, 38 naxalites were killed in anti-terror attacks as compared to only eight last year, indicating a more than four fold increase in their casualties.

In Andhra Pradesh, 90 naxalites were killed this year as compared to 111 last year. However, a major achievement for the government was that top naxal leaders were killed in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, leaving a crippling effect on the movement, sources said.

UNI