Nagpur, Oct 30 Left Wing Extremism analyst Dr PV Ramana on Friday said the complete financial trail of the Naxalite movement as well as the weapons its cadres have hidden in forest dumps must be uncovered.
He also said inclusive development was essential to bring peace and prosperity in areas once affected by the Maoist menace.
The Union government had declared the country free of armed Naxalism on March 31 this year after a relentless campaign by security forces that saw the elimination of ultras and the surrender of several top operatives of the outlawed movement.
Speaking at the launch of his book ‘India’s Maoists – Glimpses into the Red Insurgency’, published by New Delhi-based Vivekananda International Foundation, Ramana spoke about the movement’s organisational structure, urban networks, mass organisations, recruitment strategies, financial architecture as well as surrender and rehabilitation policies of affected states.
He said an inventory should be made of the weapons and ammunition looted by Naxals from police armouries, snatched from security force personnel during clashes and explosives looted from stores of mining companies during raids. These should be recovered, Ramana added.
“Finances of the Maoists need to be traced. Several hundred crore rupees and gold biscuits have been stored in dumps in the forests. Some amount is available in cash in urban centres with sympathisers and realtors. These need to be confiscated,” he asserted.
The Union government has announced a paradigm shift in its approach, and development shall take precedence now, he added.
“It is necessary to extend welfare and development measures to all the 196 districts so that there is no scope for any district to slip into the Maoist fold any time in the future,” he said, while emphasising rehabilitation via development, healthcare, skill development, education and jobs.
The book explores India’s longest-running internal security challenge, and offers readers objective and evidence-based understanding, he said.
Nagpur police commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil, Special Inspector General of Police (Anti-Naxal Operations) Nagpur, Sandip Patil, and Nagpur Superintendent of Police Harsh Podar attended the event.
(PTI News)
