Hoping to replicate the “successes” achieved during anti-insurgency operations in Lalgarh in West Bengal, the Centre now plans to “restore civil administration” in the six districts worst-hit by Naxalite violence by sending in Central Paramilitary Forces.

The move, targeted at freeing a population of close to 25 lakh from Naxalite influence, is prompted by Thursday’s Cabinet Committee on Security's decision to allow a major offensive against the Naxalites. The six districts where these operations will be carried out are spread over the states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa.

Under the Centre’s plan, which essentially envisages a “fresh induction of forces” in anti-Naxal operations, in addition to the 40 battalions already fighting, concentrated forces will be sent in to a limited area and tasked with reclaiming lost territory and holding on to it to allow the restoration of civil administration. Once an area is cleared and secured, the government’s priority will be to first set up a police station in it and activate Public Distribution System. The Centre estimates it will take the security forces around 30 days to secure an area and up to two years to clear the worst affected districts.

“This is a holistic plan for bringing in development,” Union Home Secretary G K Pillai said, adding that the Centre was planning to spend Rs 1,000 crore during the current fiscal out of the Rs 7,300 crore sanctioned for a three-year period for the development of basic infrastructure in affected areas.

A key lesson from the Lalgarh experience is to make the Central forces hold on to the reclaimed territory. Further, the Centre has decided not to call in the Armed Forces to help the paramilitary in anti-Naxal ops for the time being. However, the security forces will borrow equipment and technology from them.

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