Thiruvananthapuram: The commandos deployed on anti-Maoist operations in the forests along Kerala’s border have been put on a tight leash after the “encounter” deaths of two rebels near Nilambur piled the pressure on the Left Democratic Front government. The Thunderbolt commandos have limited their activities to routine combing operations following oral instructions from their superiors. The commandos have not gone combing inside the forest for a month.
The killings of CPI(Maoist) central committee member Kuppu Devaraj and Kaveri aka Ajitha inside the Padukka forest in Karulai range on November 24 had drawn flak from all sections including parties within the ruling coalition. Even the Kerala State Human Rights Commission took the government to task.
Stung by the remarks, the government has ordered the force to steer clear of any maneuver that could lead to another controversy. The commandos have been instructed to rely more on intelligence and take the tribal community into confidence while looking for the presence of armed militants in the forest.
The November 24 operation involved 30 commandos. The officials said they were faced with 11 Maoists. The two victims had 26 bullet marks on their bodies. Ajitha had 19 bullet marks while Devaraj’s body had seven. Devaraj was shot from behind.
The police claimed that they were forced to retaliate after the Maoists shot at them using sophisticated weapons but the theory did not hold water because they could only recover a pistol from near Devaraj’s bullet-riddled body.
Human rights activists alleged that the police opened fire on the little group of people who were resting after lunch.
CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran was the most vocal among critics of the police action. He wanted to know if the government planned to shoot anyone who differed with them. The LDF government should not act like the Modi government at the Center, he said.
The human rights commission also condemned the action. The commission rejected a report submitted by the District Superintendent of Police on the matter because the report lacked sufficient information.
The decision to go slow on Naxal hunting has not gone down well within the force. A section of the crack team says that the sidestepping may be harmful in the long run.
The Thunderbolt commando force was formed in February 2011 as part of the India Reserve Battalion. The team has 237 commandoes. Half of them are put on anti-Maoist operations.