Maoists are employing fresh tactics to launch an offensive against security forces as the critical monsoon season sets in the Naxal hotbeds of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa.
A section of the Maoist top brass, dubbed the Professional Revolutionaries (PRs) is planning to step up attacks on security forces and key infrastructure in Naxal dominated zones in the next few months, latest intelligence reports have said. The monsoon season has normally been a a lean period for any operations in the Naxal hotbeds over the last few years where both Naxals and security forces are constrained to go slow virtually declaring an unannounced cease-fire when the heavy monsoon sets in.
However, Central intelligence agencies have received inputs of the PRs modus operandi where they are motivating their cadres to continue with their operations against security forces. Southern Chhattisgarh including Bastar and areas surrounding Koel river in Jharkhand are the Maoist dens during this period.
“It is the jan militia and local squads who may return to the fields for farming or seek other employment during the monsoon season. But the PRs are highly motivated and a trend has been noticed where they may be able to continue to launch attacks spelling the need to remain alert,” a top home ministry official said.
The PRs are holding light machine guns, shotguns, self loading rifles (SLRs) and A-K series rifles among other weap-ons, said the official, adding that these senior fighters of the Maoists are not only dangerous because of their lethal weapons but particularly because of their unma-tched knowledge of the local terrain and ability to move more swiftly than the security personnel deployed in the naxal hotbeds. Security forces are keeping a vigil on Maoists movements.