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India: Maoist and Naxalite militants and the problems associated with these groups in the state of West Bengal (1999-November 2004)

According to Patterns of Global Terrorism 2003, naxalite groups present in West Bengal are usually associated with the Maoist Communist Center of India (MCCI), also referred to as the Maoist Communist Center (MCC) (29 Apr. 2004). The MCCI's goals are reflected in the activities of the naxalites, whose ideals include "peasant revolution, abolition of class hierarchies, and expansion of 'liberated zones'" (Patterns of Global Terrorism 2003 29 Apr. 2004). Moreover, using a "virtually parallel government," the MCCI reportedly "taxes" local citizens in remote villages in order to carry out small projects such as building health and education facilities to assist these communities (ibid.). With regard to the group's strength, Patterns of Global Terrorism 2003 reported that the MCCI might have up to 30,000 members (ibid.).

Country Reports 2003 noted that between the early 1980s and 2003, naxalite and state security forces have both been blamed for committing human rights violations against civilians (25 Feb. 2004, Sec 1.a). For example, MCCI activities reportedly result in about 100 civilian deaths per year, with local landlords being the target of frequent attacks (Patterns of Global Terrorism 2003 29 Apr. 2004). In 2003, nationwide statistics showed that naxalites carried out 1,671 attacks that killed 422 civilians and 95 security personnel (Rediff.com 2 Apr. 2004; see also The Hindu 17 Oct. 2004).

With regard to West Bengal, statistics provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs demonstrated that "left-wing extremist violence" in the form of naxalite activities had resulted in the deaths of two persons in 2000, four in 2001 and seven in 2002 (ORF 28 Nov. 2003). In 2003 and 2004, news and human rights sources reported that naxalite groups maintain an active presence in that state (AI 2004; Rediff.com 2 Apr. 2004; The Telegraph 6 Oct. 2004; The Hindu 15 Oct. 2004; Times of India 20 Nov. 2004). According to Amnesty International, naxalite groups in West Bengal and other north-eastern states were responsible for attacks against non-combatants and civilians, which included abuses such as torture and killings (2004). The Telegraph reported that in February 2004 a landmine allegedly planted by naxalites had killed five soldiers, two police officers and a driver in Belpahari, West Bengal (6 Oct. 2004). Suspected naxalites were also blamed for the deaths of six soldiers in West Midnapore, West Bengal in October 2004 (The Hindu 15 Oct. 2004).

The ongoing actions of naxalite groups in West Bengal have pushed that state's government into heightening security operations to combat their activities (The Hindu 12 Apr. 2004; ibid. 20 Aug. 2004; ibid. 18 Aug. 2004; ibid. 15 Oct. 2004). In April 2004, the West Bengal and Jharkhand state governments were reportedly planning joint police operations in order to address naxalite activities being carried out in those states (The Hindu 12 Apr. 2004). In August 2004, The Hindu reported that a "'special operation'" to combat naxalite militants had been initiated by the West Bengal government (18 Aug. 2004). The thrust of the operation involved the deployment of joint patrols of state police and paramilitary forces, including four detachments of the Border Security Forces, two companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and a contingent of 350 members of the Eastern Frontier Rifles in three south-western districts of West Bengal (The Hindu 18 Aug. 2004). The same article also reported that police forces of West Bengal and Jharkhand state were holding regular intelligence-exchanging meetings regarding the movement of naxalite groups (ibid.). In a related article of August 2004, The Hindu reported that the Special Security Bureau had sent one battalion to Sikkim and two to the West Bengal border of Nepal to prevent the infiltration by naxalite allies from that country (20 Aug. 2004).

Following an attack against state security forces by naxalite groups, The Hindu noted, Indian security forces reportedly arrested 22 persons suspected of being involved in the assaults (15 Oct. 2004). Moreover, security forces apparently closed a portion of West Bengal's border with Jharkhand state in an effort to capture suspected militants (The Hindu 15 Oct. 2004).

Country Reports 2003 mentioned that the police sometimes arrested civilians and held them for lengthy periods without charge in order to investigate suspected links to naxalites (25 Feb. 2004, Sec 1.d). In March 2004, the Asian Human Rights Commission stated that the crackdown against naxalite groups by West Bengal authorities had resulted in the arbitrary detention of "many innocent people including social workers, human rights activists, etc." (17 Mar. 2004). The report goes on to describe the cases of two particular individuals who were arrested by Jangiapara police in West Bengal reportedly based on unfounded allegations of suspected crimes (AHRC 17 Mar. 2004).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Amnesty International (AI). 2004. "India." Amnesty International Report 2004. <http://web.amnesty.org/report2004/ind-summary-eng> [Accessed 8 Dec. 2004]

Asian Human Rights Commission.17 March 2004. "Urgent Action: Two Social Workers Arrested by the Jangipara Police." <http://www.derechos.org/news/archives/000541.html> [Accessed 6 Dec. 2004]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003. 25 February 2004. "India." United States Department of State, Washington, DC. <http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27947.htm> [Accessed 8 Dec. 2004]

The Hindu [Chennai]. 17 October 2004. S. Nagesh Kumar. "India: Analyst Says Maoists Active in 'At Least 125 Districts' Across 12 States." (FBIS-NES-2004-1017 18 Oct. 2004/WNC)
_____. 15 October 2004. "Suspected Naxalite Attack Casts Cloud on Talks." <http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2004101605001100.htm&date=2004/10/16/&prd=th&> [Accessed 6 Dec. 2004]
_____. 20 August 2004. Marcus Dam. "Indian, Nepalese Security Forces Launch 'Joint Operations' Against Maoist Rebels." (FBIS-NES-2004-0821 23 Aug. 2004/WNC)
_____. 18 August 2004. Marcus Dam. "Drive Against Naxalites in West Bengal." <http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=2004081908671200.htm&date=2004/08/19/&prd=th&> [Accessed 8 Dec. 2004]
_____. 12 April 2004. Marcus Dam. "India: West Bengal, Jharkhand Governments Plan Joint Action Against Insurgents." (FBIS-NES-2004-0413 14 Apr. 2004/WNC)

Observer Research Foundation (ORF). 28 November 2003. "PWG Naxals Gain Newer Presence in Karnataka." <http://www.observerindia.com/analysis/A053.htm> [Accessed 6 Dec. 2004]

Patterns of Global Terrorism 2003. 29 April 2004. United States Department of State, Washington, DC. <http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/pgtrpt/2003/31759.htm> [Accessed 8 Dec. 2004]

Rediff.com. 2 April 2004. Josy Joseph. "The Biggest Threat to Indian Elections." <http://us.rediff.com/cms/print.jsp?docpath=/election/2004/apr/02espec.htm> [Accessed 6 Dec. 2004]

The Telegraph [Calcutta]. 6 October 2004. Naresh Jana. "India: Report Says Maoist Guerrillas Waiting To 'Unleash Terror' in West Bengal." (FBIS-NES-2004-1007 8 Oct. 2004/WNC)

Times of India [New Delhi]. 20 November 2004. Pervez Iqbal Siddiqui. "Lethal Combo, Maoist-Naxal Nexus." <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-928882,prtpage-1.cms> [Accessed 6 Dec. 2004]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI), Freedom House, Human Rights Watch.