In what is being viewed as a major shift in Naxal strategy, the outfit CPI (Maoist) is now trying to infiltrate key infrastructure sectors like railways, surface transport, coal, shipping, rural development, telecom and civil aviation with sympathisers and their own cadres.
As the intelligence agencies feel the move could have serious long-term ramifications for the Indian economy, they have sent out a detailed note to the Naxal-affected states with a view to nip the menace in the bud.
The Intelligence Bureau document, accessed by this newspaper, states that the main aim behind this move by the Naxals is that “when the need arises they can stall work and cripple the Indian economy”. The note adds, “While educated CPI (Maoist) sympathisers are being used to take up office work in these ministries and departments, those who are not qualified are pumped into various infrastructure projects going on across the country, particularly in Naxal-dominated states.”
“The uneducated cadre basically works as labourers or supervisors while the educated cadre, which is a sizeable chunk, take up white collar jobs. Most of the sympathisers are educated and based in cities so it’s easier for them to get such jobs. There are reports that the cadres have already infiltrated into these key sectors,” a top intelligence official said.
The intelligence agencies have now asked the Naxal-affected states to carry out an extensive verification drive to check the background of all employees working in these ministries and departments. A similar exercise is also being conducted at the Central level.
These states have also been advised that all fresh appointments being made in the infrastructure sector should be thoroughly screened. “We have asked the state agencies to prepare a list of suspicious persons and work in close coordination with our state multi-agency centres in this regard,” the official added.