Until the guns fall silent: Government’s new aggressive strategy in Bastar’s Red Corridor
Bastar division — can’t help flaunting the three yellow stars shining on his shoulder strap. The stars signify the 36-year-old’s rank as an inspector of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a specialised police unit that is made up of a significant number of for mer militants. He commands a team of 60 police personnel constantly on the lookout for, well, ambushes by his former comrades.
“In the jungle, we can fight like guerrillas for days and nights,” says Mudami, who has been instrumental in at least three significant operations against Maoists in recent months. Having spent seven years (2005-12) in the ranks of the banned CPI (Maoist), Mudami, a native of Gangaloor in Bijapur district, possesses deep insights into their military tactics and psychological strategies.
The DRG has been instrumental in executing the state government’s aggressive new strategy in Bastar’s Red Corridor, leading to the elimination of 140 militants in just seven months this year. Yet, the sustainability of this military approach remains in question.
The 140 Maoist cadres killed between January and July marks a significant escalation compared with 2 0 fatalities in 2023 and 30 in 2022. The silver line is that during this period 500 Maoists surrendered in Bastar alone, surpassing the total of 398 surrenders recorded in all of 2023.
TAKE NO PRISONERS
Vishnu Deo Sai, chief minister of Chhattisgarh, says he is resolute in maintaining an aggressive stance against Maoists, whom former prime minister Manmohan Singh called “the greatest internal
