1. Overview: The Naxals get more lethal

The Naxals are increasingly getting more lethal. The powerful landmine blast targeting former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Janardhan Reddy and his wife N Rajyalakshmi, a minister in the Andhra Pradesh government, near Chitwedu village in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh on 7 September 2007, [1] killing of 24 security personnel including 16 Central Reserve Police Force personnel on 10 July 2007 in the dense forests of Elampatti-Regadgatta in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh [2] and the killing of 15 security personnel, including an Inspector, three jawans of Chhattisgarh Armed Force and eight Special Police Officers, in an ambush near Taadmetla under Dornapal police station in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on 29 August 2007 [3] are testimonies to the increasing lethal power of the Naxals.

Chhattisgarh continues to be the epicenter of the Naxalite conflict as a direct consequence of the counter-insurgency Salwa Judum campaign.  According to the estimate of the Asian centre for Human Rights (ACHR), at least 384 persons have been killed in the Naxalite conflict during January to September 2007. These included 129 civilians, 162 security force personnels and 93 alleged Naxalites. The highest number of killings have been reported from Chhattisgarh (208) which constitutes 54% of the total killings, followed by Andhra Pradesh (59), Jharkhand (44) and Bihar (28). 

There have been credible reports of serious human rights violations by the security forces while combating the Naxalites. Though security forces identify all those killed by them as “Naxalites”, there have been allegations of fake encounter killings. On 16 July 2007, representatives of various political parties and civil society groups including Congress, Communist Party of India, Dalit Sangarsh Samiti, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, All India Trade Union Congress and Indian National Trade Union Congress stated that the five alleged Maoists who were killed by the security forces near Menasinahadya village under Narasimharajapura police station in Chikmagalur district of Karnataka on 10 July 2007 were innocent.  These political parties and civil society groups demanded a judicial inquiry. [4]

The Andhra Pradesh Police Personnel were allegedly responsible for the rape of 11 tribal women during anti-Naxalite operations at Vakapalli village under Nurmati panchayat in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh on 20 August 2007. [5] No identification parade of the suspects was conducted though the victims stated that they could identify the culprits. The National Human Rights Commission also intervened into the matter.

The Naxalites were also responsible for gross violations of international humanitarian laws including torture and mutilation, hostage taking and killings after trials in Kangaroo courts, the Jan Adalats. Alleged police informers and political party activists were the primary targets. At least eight persons were killed after trial in socalled Jan Adalats from July to September 2007. 

On 1 July 2007, Shambhu Shah and Meghu Ram were beaten to death by the Naxalites in the presence of the villagers after the “Jan Adalat” (People's Court) sentenced them to death on the charge of being police informers at Sisahani village under Pakri Dayal police station of East Champaran district of Bihar. Another villager Laxmi Shah was critically injured and was admitted at Motihari Sadar Hospital. [6]

The response of the governments basically remained the same. After the meeting of the National Security Council on 2 August 2007, the Central government

selected eight districts - two each in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa - for launching a “strong anti-Naxalite action”. [7]   The plans are reportedly being chalked out.

Table 1: Killings in Naxal conflict, January-September 2007 

States	Civilians	Security forces	Alleged Naxalites	Total
Andhra Pradesh	21	2	36	59
Bihar	13	15	0	28
Chhattisgarh	46	134	28	208
Jharkhand	28	7	9	44
Karnataka	1	1	6	8
Maharashtra	4	0	3	7
Madhya Pradesh	0	0	1	1
Orissa	11	3	9	23
Uttar Pradesh	0	0	1	1
West Bengal	5	0	0	5
Total	129	162	93	384

 

2. Analysis of the Naxal conflict during July-September 2007

During July-September 2007, at least 135 persons [8] were killed including 60 civilians, 49 security forces and 26 alleged Naxalites. The highest number of killing was reported from Chhattisgarh (67), followed by Andhra Pradesh (20), Bihar (16), Jharkhand (15), Karnataka (7), Orissa (7), West Bengal (2) and Maharashtra (1). 

Table 2: Killings in Naxal conflict, July – September 2007

States	Civilians	Security forces	Alleged Naxalites	Total
Andhra Pradesh	8	0	12	20
Bihar	9	7	0	16
Chhattisgarh	21	41	5	67
Jharkhand	15	0	0	15
Karnataka	0	1	6	7
Maharashtra	1	0	0	1
Madhya Pradesh	0	0	0	0
Orissa	4	0	3	7
Uttar Pradesh	0	0	0	0
West Bengal	2	0	0	2
Total	60	49	26	135

I. Human rights violations by the security forces

The security forces seldom claimed to have killed innocent civilians. Those killed by the security forces were often identified as Naxalites. The security forces claimed to have killed at least 26 alleged Naxalites during July – September 2007.

Table 3: Killings by the security forces

States	Civilians	Alleged Naxalites	Total
Andhra Pradesh	0	12	12
Bihar	0	0	0
Chhattisgarh	0	5	5
Jharkhand	0	0	0
Karnataka	0	6	6
Maharashtra	0	0	0
Madhya Pradesh	0	0	0
Orissa