Leaves fall in autumn; so do lives of cops, ultras

Warangal: Spring has arrived triggering the Maoists’ Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC) that usually kicks off around this month and continues till the onset of monsoon. During this time, the Maoists try to launch intense attack on security forces. Tuesday’s Naxal ambush in Sukma that killed nine CRPF troopers signals that ultras stood their ground firmly despite the recent Pujari Kanker encounter in which they lost 10 of their comrades.

Spring that triggers denudation of forest, which improves visibility, is diabolical for both the Maoists and security forces. This is exactly the time where the former waylaying to attack, and the latter to counter it fittingly. Normally, it is expected to continue for the next three months with both sides pitching to gain upper hand over other. It is said that Maoists treat TCOC as a key strategy that boosts the morale of their cadres.

“In fact, the security forces are on maximum vigil expecting a counterattack from the Maoists especially against the backdrop of recent encounter near Pujari Kanker where they faced a deathblow,” a senior police official said, pointing to Tuesday’s explosion of Mine Protected Vehicle (MPV) carrying CRPF troopers near Palodi in Sukma district.

The threshold limit of MPVs used by the security forces is not more than 40 kgs. With the ultras using Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) weighing more than 60 kgs, the present lot of MPVs with the security forces appears to be passé, it is learnt. The incident comes in the wake of the CRPF reportedly adding 40-odd MPVs to its armoury.

Meanwhile, the police reportedly used drones fitted with night vision cameras to zero in on the location where Maoists were taking rest in Pujari Kanker forest region. Fall of leaves with the onset of spring helped the drones to get a clear view of the location. Despite the multi-pronged strategy of the security forces, two top Maoists – Telangana State Committee secretary Haribhushan alias Jagan and Karimnagar-Khammam-Warangal divisional committee secretary Bade Chokka Rao alias Damodar escaped from the spot.

“Although the security forces are in total control of plain area and to some extent into the thickets on either side of Telangana-Chhattisgarh border, Maoists have advantage in some dense pockets of the forest,” the official said, stating that the ascendency war was likely to claim more lives.

However, all four States – Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha – are on high alert with combing in their regions intensified, and it seems the next three months will be like sitting on a powder keg for both sides.