Supreme Court order deals a big blow to Centre's anti-Maoist operations

Tuesday’s Supreme Court judgment directing the Chhattisgarh government to immediately stop recruiting local tribal people as Special Police Officers for operations against Maoists will be a major operational blow for the Centre’s anti-Maoist policy, state government officials and security officers have told DNA.

Officially, though, the Chhattisgarh government put up a brave face, saying it will seek legal opinion before deciding on the next course of action.

“We have not yet gotten a copy of the judgment,” said Baijendra Kumar, principal secretary to the chief minister, Chhattisgarh.

“Once we get a copy, we will study it and consult legal experts before taking appropriate action. We will respect the decision of the Supreme Court.”

But speaking on condition of anonymity, senior paramilitary officers, state government officials and state police officers were unanimous that the apex court’s decision is a major setback to the Union home ministry’s anti-Maoist operations, and that it will be a shot in the arm for the Maoists.

When paramilitary forces were first posted in Maoist-hit areas, they suffered major casualties. Under growing pressure, the Centre and state decided to recruit more locals as SPOs to support operations.

“It is a dangerous decision,” said a senior intelligence officer who works in the state’s worst-affected districts. “The problem is two-fold: The security forces — even the state police force — depended heavily on the SPOs. Now our operational ability will be crippled and also our numbers on the frontline will be greatly hit. Second, what is the government to do with these SPOs once they are disarmed? They definitely can’t be sent back to their villages.”

Another problem the state will now face is paying these recruits — about 6,500 of them at last count — with the Supreme Court asking the Centre to stop paying these recruits. SPOs are paid between Rs3,500 and Rs5,000 a month, 80% of which the Centre contributes.

“This is a great shot in the arm for the Maoists,” said a New Delhi-based security expert. “They have been doing all they can to get the Salwa Judum, which was a thorn in their flesh, disbanded.”

A major problem facing the Chhattisgarh government now is what it will do with the 6,500 recruits. If the government does not come up with a plan to absorb them into the police force in non-combat roles, they will be forced to go back to their villages.

“If they go back, the Maoists will kill them,” said a senior police officer. “You also have to remember that they do not have great relations with their fellow villagers either.” The SPOs are accused of gross human rights violation, including rape and murder.