Amid Surge In Violent Attacks, NIA Assumes Control Of Cases Related To Maoist Extremism

Following the recent surge in violent attacks, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has assumed control of several cases related to Maoist violence.

These include the January attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, and the assassination of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ratan Dubey in Narayanpur, in November of the previous year.

The NIA will investigate the involvement of supporters of Madvi Hidma, commander of Battalion-I of the People’s Liberation Guerilla Army of Maoists, suspected of orchestrating several recent attacks in the area.

A unnamed official cited by Hindustan Times stated, "We are investigating a broader conspiracy by Maoists to regain lost ground by targeting security personnel, politicians, and civilians. We have taken up eight Maoist-related cases in recent weeks."

On 16 January, Maoists attacked the CRPF camp in Bijapur, claiming to kill three security forces. Maoists' claim was disputed by forces. Ratan Dubey, BJP's Narayanpur unit vice president, was fatally attacked with a sharp weapon while campaigning in November 2023.

The NIA has also taken up the investigation of an improvised explosive device-blast during Chhattisgarh's assembly elections last year. Several individuals suspected of collaborating with Maoists have been detained in Chhattisgarh in recent months.

Authorities attributed the recent violence to Maoists' efforts to revive insurgency in response to security forces entering their strongholds. An anonymous counter-insurgency official remarked, "Hidma, the military battalion leader, is orchestrating these violent attacks to maintain Maoist relevance. However, he is unlikely to succeed, as multiple agencies are collaborating to eradicate Left-wing extremism (LWE) within the next few years."

Hidma, a seasoned guerrilla warfare strategist, carries a bounty of nearly Rs 40 lakh on his head and has been behind some of the deadliest Maoist ambushes on security forces, including the 2017 Burkapal attack that claimed 24 CRPF personnel's lives. The 2013 Jheerum Ghati ambush resulted in the deaths of 27 individuals, including Congress leaders, while the 2010 Dantewada ambush claimed 76 lives.

The Union Home Ministry reports that since 2019, security forces have established 199 new camps in LWE-affected regions for enhanced area domination. In January, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated that the LWE issue has largely been contained within certain pockets of Chhattisgarh.