Maoists are on a recruitment drive as they increase their activities in the Naxal-affected areas of India, according to an IB report accessed by The Daily Guardian.
Areas like Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh sees an increased Maoist recruitment and activities. The Maoist groups are working to train the next generation of terrorists and are persuading families to send at least one individual from their house to be part of the movement.
The main focus remained recruitment. In Chhattisgarh’s Samri, Amabeda, Chotebethiya, Irragaon and others, the Maoists motivated young boys and girls to join the group. Multiple meetings were also held to indoctrinate the youth.
The same was done in Odisha’s Chandrapur, Bijepur and Chitrakonda. Meanwhile, Maharashtra and Jharkhand saw the Maoists reach out the locals urging them to be part of the activities and send at least one member of their household into the fold.
In Andhra Pradesh, several meetings were held to push the agenda and brainwash the villagers.
The Maoist groups are planning a range of attacks to showcase their might to the Indian forces.
In West Bengal’s Purulia, they are planning to target security forces on the eve of the 9th death anniversary of MallojulaKoteshwara Rao a.k.a. Kishanji. In Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum a series of IEDs were planted at the road between Kurkutiya-Baihatu. Landmines were also planted on the bordering areas of Goelkera and Tonto.
Dumping of explosive material, including IEDs, cordex wires, electric wires and tiffin bombs, was indicated in the Karerango forest.
Both Bihar and Madhya Pradesh saw an increase in Maoist movement as they spoke to locals about land rights, taught them how to impart arms and versed them in guerrilla tactics. They also asked the villagers to protest against local governments.
The Maoists are focused on planting landmines and IEDs, whilst weeding out police informers and pushing their propaganda among farmers. The support for Maoists has considerably decreased as security forces have managed to reach deeper forest areas, construction of roads-bridges and increased media outreach.