New developments in the People’s War in India

Featured image: Diagram for how to ambush multiple police camps. Source: ThePrint.

Indian media is reporting on developments of the forces lead by the CPI (Maoist). According to the report an 80-page document, allegedly from the CPI (Maoist), shows their new methods to countering aerial strikes in Bastar. The document contains diagrams explaining new tactics as well as criticism on current shortcomings. The report highlights the development of sniper squads, underground bunkers and improvised mortars.

The document presents new tactics for defending their forces and attacking the enemy in a new situation where the old Indian State is increasing its repression in the area with increased deployment of forces, new camps in the forests, the use of drones, and aerial bombardment.

To defend their forces the document contains detailed protocols, such as preparing camouflage, remaining hidden, sleeping under trees or in a three-feet deep bunker and to change their location after spotting drones. The document also takes into account the differences in conditions based on season and weather.

To counter helicopters and drones the document has instructions to deploy teams on hilltops and use improvised mortars to attack them.

There is also instructions on how snipers squads can take down helicopters by hitting the blades or the fuel tank using bullets strong enough to pierce the metal covering of the helicopters.

The report also describes two cases where helicopters of the Indian Air Force were hit by the Maoist forces in December of 2011 and January of 2013.

What the report points out as the biggest focus of the document is training and strengthening sniper squads. The document explains that “by sniper assaults, we can kill one police personnel a day and create fear in their ranks … if we are able to create such fear,” the enemy forces will be “apprehensive about coming out of their camps.”

The document also includes tactics for performing ambushes in areas with multiple police camps by launching rockets from trees and ambushing camps from multiple sides.

Expressing the concern of the Indian reaction the former Director General of Police in Chhattisgarh, R.K. Vij stated the following: “These are new and serious entrants to their (Naxal) strategy. First, snipers can be very demotivating for the forces. It means non-alert sentries are no longer secure now. Areas around police camps need to be better guarded now. Second, their focus on hitting aircraft is alarming. If they are able to take proper positions, especially on hillocks, they can cause serious damage to aircraft.”