Desperate and disoriented steps are visible in the former, the latter defies any such measure. The police from affected states are being trained in a specially set up commando warfare school under the army instructors in Kanker in Chhattisgarh. Andhra Pradesh’s Greyhound is being hailed as a model. But law and order being a state subject, the uneven performance of the police in various states in terms of both efficiency and human rights create tremendous difficulties.

Obviously, this means that the Centre will have to involve itself in large measure, but the modalities are likely to be tricky.

Paradoxically, local exploitation and the development deficit have led to Maoist insurgency for over six decades, but lately the Maoist outfits have been resisting development, as it threatens their entrenchment. Indeed, being equated with modern-day terrorists — which Naxals term a rightwing activity — is not a pleasant thought for those who have led the Telangana, Naxalbari and Srikakulam movements, seen as the three glorious phases of ‘revolution’ in India for the Maoists. However, as they desperately hold on to their ‘liberated’ zones and attempt expansion with violent strikes, they have to face the question of accountability for the sake of people they claim to be fighting for.

As for the government, it is aware of developmental paradoxes at the root of Naxalism. The question is whether it has the resolve to address them. A beginning can be made if it can intervene to correct the development deficit along with security measures that are people, not state, oriented.

... contd.