Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08KOLKATA65
2008-02-21 13:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:
SECURITY FORCES IN ORISSA STILL PURSUE MAOIST INSURGENTS
how-toVZCZCXRO3684 PP RUEHBI RUEHCI DE RUEHCI #0065 0521309 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 211309Z FEB 08 FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1892 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1771 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 0811 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0816 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0543 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0536 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0436 RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2310
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
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
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