Sukma massacre: What went wrong and what should be done
It's nearing a week now since the Naxals ambushed CRPF personnel in Sukma, Chhattisgarh, resulting in the martyrdom of 25 braveheart jawans. Much is being written and debated on air on the tragedy, and the biggest paramilitary force is currently under the scanner to answer its "failure" in losing so many lives.
Security experts, retired Army Generals and many self-styled specialists on anti-Naxalite terror are seizing this opportunity to remain in focus, highlighting CRPF "failures" and seem to be on a fault-finding spree, blaming almost all concerned for the tragedy.
The ongoing blame game includes delay in posting of a regular Director General, lack of adequate equipment, not adhering to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and not appropriating the experience and services of CRPF cadre officers, etc etc. Such scathing and sweeping criticism is more than unfounded, barring some operational issues requiring a detailed analysis.
The sad incident is now a fait accompli and the CRPF, currently in mourning, is not in a position to defend itself as there have been repeated attacks and casualties, almost in the same vicinity. So any explanation or justification from them is unlikely to seem plausible or look to allay apprehensions.
What is needed perhaps is a professional introspection into the incident and putting in place a fail-proof anti-Naxalite plan to prevent recurrence of similar kind. One should move forward with a positive frame of mind with constructive thoughts, instead of hitting out at the force.
What comes to mind as an immediate redressal is perhaps to tone up intelligence to deal with the menace. We are not sure if intelligence within the CRPF is at all playing any role, though the top brass often talks about this subject.
It's hard to imagine a humongous force like the CRPF, with a strength of nearly 3 lakh and principally engaged in fighting Naxals in a particular region, is without any formidable intelligence set up which is Maoist-centric.
Let's take the case of BSF. It has a separate Intelligence branch to cater to actionable intelligence to deal with threats on the long India-Pakistan and India- Bangladesh borders. It must be paying dividends.
It needs to be borne in mind that the BSF was founded in 1965 and today it has an exclusive intelligence wing under a senior IPS officer supervising collection of intelligence. On the other hand, the CRPF came into being way back in 1939 and yet is without a full-fledged intelligence set up. If at all it has one, it looks to be functionally tentative.
In view of the reverses suffered recently, it would appear advisable for the CRPF leadership to float an earmarked Intelligence wing devoting only to Naxalite-related information for obtaining actionable inputs to counter and neutralise any Maoist plans to strike.
The CRPF may be constrained with shortage of officers and men to form the proposed entity. To overcome this, the Union home ministry, being the apex body to oversee paramilitary forces, must ensure that any manpower deficit is quickly made up and the force is a well-oiled machine geared with intelligence machinery to start delivering favourable results.
Significantly, retired and experienced intelligence officers are available, who have in the past dealt with numerous complex problems. A team of retired officers and personnel from the Intelligence Bureau, R&AW and Chhattisgarh Police (intelligence) can be drawn up to assist the CRPF in forming the wing. Retired personnel are proficient in intelligence tradecraft and their experience should come handy.
Pooling in all talent and experience can be the first pragmatic step towards containing the menace. Importantly, there needs to be a smattering of CRPF cadre officers too in the team to benefit from their rich experience.
The CRPF does have competent officers on its rolls. Their bravery is unquestionable. Time and again, they have fearlessly borne the brunt of the worst kind of violence in Kashmir and Naxal-infested regions. Hence, the involvement of retired CRPF personnel is a must. This move, likely to bear fruition, will look to instil confidence in the force, increasing its operational efficacy.
Keeping the spirits of the force to an all-time high seems the need of the hour. The government has just appointed a DG to head the force. Let him have a free hand to steer its rank and file to new heights with a vigorous anti-Naxalite drive to restore confidence not only among the force, but also among the local populace.
Under no circumstances, the sacrifices of valiant CRPF men should be allowed to go in vain. And that's the first challenge of the new DG.
K Vijay Kumar, former DG of CRPF and now adviser to the home ministry on Left-wing extremism, in his address to retired and serving CRPF officers last year (on the occasion of the force's anniversary) had stressed the need for reinforced intelligence.
This point merits to be carried forward now in letter and spirit. The nation cannot afford to lose brave and committed officers every now and then. The Naxals must be dealt a devastating blow and that too a profound one to prevent any repeat of the killings of April 24. These are the operational facets requiring priority.
As regards the calls by human rights groups and NGOs to integrate the Naxals into the mainstream and offering them packages, such goodies can wait. Ad interim, the menace should be addressed with fury by the CRPF and then welfare measures can follow.
Pro-Naxal activists, in the meantime, should call upon the perpetrators of the terror to shun violence and it's also incumbent on them to sympathise with the families of the slain bravehearts.