Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Left Front government in Bengal may have tried to divert the violence perpetrated in Nandigram on to the Maoists, but the CRPF deployed in the area has a different story to tell.
They say that there is, in fact, no conclusive proof of Maoist presence in Nandigram.
“What strategy Maoists had in this area or whether they were not in this area, whether they just imparted training to some people in the area: this matter has to be looked into in detail,” says CRPF DIG, Alok Raj.
The CRPF says that they would like to jointly investigate with the local police to conclusively prove the presence of Maoists in the Nandigram conflict.
“There must have been some tactical-strategic support. It cannot be ruled out. But it needs further it needs further investigation for conclusive proof,” says Raj.
“You cannot say it very conclusively. But the trends show an indication, especially with the seizure of some literature, the seizure of some landmines. It cannot be called as a conclusive proof of the Maoist presence,” adds Raj.
These CRPF soldiers are experienced in counter insurgency operations against the Maoists guerrillas.
And they know that when in the line of fire, the Maoists are know to fight back. But when CPI (M)'s armed militia launched Operation Nandigram, it hardly faced any resistance as it broke the siege of Nandigram by the Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee, an organization representing the anti land acquisition protestors.
“Had there been a very strong armed squad of Maoists in this area they would have definitely retaliated whatever attack that was taking place,” says Raj.
The CRPF wants to enter areas where large scale violence and arson took place during the course of Operation Nandigram and areas where the local police say it has intelligence indication of the presence of Maoists. So the CRPF is seeing its role in Nandigram as a semi-counter insurgency operation (semi CI Ops).
“It's definitely a semi-CI Ops situation along with inputs of law and order handling also,” says Raj.
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