Govt rolls out red carpet for Naxals

NEW DELHI: The Centre, which usually remains tight-lipped about the kind of weapons the Maoists have, has in its new guidelines for
surrender-cum-rehabilitation of Naxalites indicated that the Red ultras' arsenal no longer consists of only looted police weapons. They could, in fact, also have deadlier ones — sniper rifles and surface-to-air missiles — which the ultras might have procured from outside.

Though the guidelines, finalised on August 26, do not clearly say what kind of weapons the Maoists have, incentives have been for the Red ultras who surrender with those kind of weapons — a clear indication of the assessment of security agencies about the Naxals’ capabilities.

The list carries details of weapons which the Maoists have looted from police during their attacks on patrolling parties, police stations and godowns of public sector mining companies over the years. Such weapons and communication equipment consist of AK-47/56/74 rifles, pistols, revolvers, ammunition of all types, grenades and wireless sets.

However, what could be biggest worry of the security agencies is something which the ultras had certainly not looted from the police but procured from outside through insurgent groups active in the north-east. Such weapons/equipment include sniper rifles, SAM missiles, rockets, satellite phones and very high frequency communication sets.

A senior home ministry official said: “The guidelines have mentioned these weapons as there is a strong possibility of Maoists having those deadly arms in their arsenal. It is not a secret that the Naxalites have, of late, been in touch with militant groups like Ulfa and NDFB in the north-east to procure such weapons.”

The government, through the guidelines for the Naxal-affected states, offer different amounts as “additional” incentives to those ultras who may surrender with such weapons. Sniper rifles, rockets, missiles and light machine guns which can even target low-flying choppers and other long-distance targets attract higher incentives to Naxalites if they surrender with such weapons.

“The incentive given for surrender of the arms will be deposited in the form of a fixed deposit in the joint names of the surrenderee and a state government nominee and may be given to the surrenderee at the time of completion of three years after surrender, subject to good behaviour by the surrenderee,” said the guidelines.
Source::TimesofIndia