With the banned CPI (Maoist) launching the 'tactical counter-offensive campaign (TCOC)’ from April, security forces in Chhattisgarh are on their toes gearing up for a counter offensive. The next three months are crucial for the Left Wing Extremism-hit state which is likely to witness an increase in attacks by the CPI (Maoist). The ultras will be more aggressive in their operations and will also begin a massive recruitment drive, particularly in their strongholds like south Bastar.
The forces have their eyes on the elusive naxal leader, Hidma who is controlling operations in south Bastar and leads the guerrilla army of the Maoists in the state.
There is unrest among the cadres with a lot of area dominated by them being taken over by security forces who are assisting developmental works in the state. A senior security official said the recent offer of peace talks was also a smoke screen by the banned outfit before the launch of the TCOC.
The TCOC is held every year by the naxals before the onset of monsoon when they contact the locals, recruit youth, provide training and launch attacks on security forces.
According to senior CRPF officials, the central forces are reworking their strategy to counter the naxal threat in the coming days. Senior officials have been dispatched to oversee the operations on the ground.
The first major naxal attack was foiled on Thursday by the ITBP forces which unearthed and destroyed two Improvised Explosive Devices of 15 kg and 5 kg each. The ITBP troops on patrolling near Bakarkatta in Nawagaon discovered the twin IEDs that were planted to target the security forces.
Sources said remote-controlled IEDs and booby traps continue to remain a challenge for security forces in the LWE-hit areas despite technological interventions both by the defence forces and central paramilitary forces to thwart such attacks. During the TCOC, the Maoists will continue to focus on training cadres on making IEDs and booby traps.
Security sources said CPI (Maoist) general secretary Basava Raju has a known military mind and his focus as the central military commission of the outfit was also training cadres in military tactics and use of explosives. The TCOC will be an opportunity for him to bring more aggression to the Maoist operations especially in the naxal-infested zones of Chhattisgarh.