SECURITY FORCES IN ORISSA STILL PURSUE MAOIST INSURGENTS

UNCLAS KOLKATA 000065 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER MARR ASEC PHUM IN SUBJECT: SECURITY FORCES IN ORISSA STILL PURSUE MAOIST INSURGENTS WITH LIMITED RESULTS REF: KOLKATA 0062 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On February 20, approximately 400 Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel joined Orissa security forces in the search for the over 200 Maoists insurgents who attacked police facilities and armory on February ¶15. The scale of the Maoist attack prompted Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to announce additional measures to be taken by his government to counter the Maoists threat such as increasing anti-Maoist forces, police staff and strengthening armory defenses. The GOO has agreed to have discussions in the State Assembly on the issue on February 21, but no coherent response to the Maoist threat in Orissa appears likely at the state level. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On February 20, four companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) joined security forces in Orissa to search for Maoists who had raided several police posts and escaped with a large haul of weapons after killing 15 people (including 14 security personnel) on February 15 (reftel). Six CPRF battalions and two air force helicopters had already been committed immediately following the attack. About 20 Maoist rebels were reportedly killed in a fierce battle in the Gosama forest of Orissa's Ganjam district, which is close to Nayagarh where the Maoist attacks took place. Post spoke with an official in Orissa's Home Department, who indicated that so far they have found eight half-burned vehicles used by Maoists in the Gosama forest, but have not found any Maoist bodies. ¶3. (U) On February 20, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik briefed Orissa Assembly legislators on the security operations, announcing a series actions to be taken and that on his request the Federal government has sent four additional companies of CRPF men. Patnaik said that all available vacancies in the police department would be filled expeditiously, and that the Director General of Police would train rapidly new recruits. Patnaik also stated that all police stations and armories in the state would be "fortified." In addition, Patnaik indicated he would be strengthening the special intelligence wing that monitors Maoist activity, and that the state police chief would be authorized to hire the next of kin of police personnel killed in anti-naxal operations, commensurate with their qualifications and eligibility as a form of compensation to the the deceased officers' families. ¶4. (U) The Chief Minister's plans did not prevent Orissa Opposition legislators, mostly from Congress, from coming to blows with ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLAs in the State Assembly. The trouble began on February 18 when Opposition Legislators rushed to the well of the Assembly to reiterate their demand for a discussion on the Maoist problem. As a group of Congress legislators argued their case they were confronted by BJD members and a scuffle broke out. The ensuing three days were marked by continued bickering and argument, causing the Speaker to adjourn the Assembly three days in a row. Orissa State Congress Vice President Gurupada Nanda told Post that the Orissa Treasury Bench (governing coalition) has finally agreed to have discussion on this issue, and that an all-party meeting under the chairmanship of Assembly Speaker would plan a course of discussion to break the stalemate. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: The addition of four CRPF companies to the anti-Maoist operations will help the present ongoing anti-Maoist operation, but may not have a significant impact in preventing Maoist activity in the future. The measures announced by the Chief Minister are encouraging but come too little, too late. As a result, Orissa still finds itself generally unprepared and without a long-term strategy for engaging the Maoists, who appear to be more efficient and coordinated than local authorities. Opposition political parties see the poor preparedness for the Maoist attack as a way to undermine Patnaik's ruling coalition but offer few alternative solutions. JARDINE