THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY BY THE MAOISTS IN THE CONFLICT AGAINST THE STATE IN INDIA

Abstract

The naxalite (Maoist) conflict in India has entered into its fifth decade. During its inception since late sixties there has been significant paradigm shift in the nature of Maoism especially in the context of India, its objectives, forms of struggle and methodology it used. The low intensity warfare has caused serious financial burden on the state exchequer. Annually the Indian State is spending hundreds of crores of rupees in counter insurgency operations and related aspects. In the last few years the Maoists are no more confined to the old methods; rather they have NLUJ Academic Use Only adopted latest technology in its fight against the state. In the present age of advanced communications and technology, it would be all the more unrealistic to imagine that one can win victory by fighting in the manner of roving rebels.1 The outbreak of naxal movement in Naxalbari in late 1960s was a rebellion of a handful of villagers armed with simplistic ánd traditional weapons like lathis, axe, sickle, etc. Gradually it took an aggressive form with the formation of the GPI (ML) which became the parent body of other Maoist organisations in India. Through these organisations, it became easier for the naxalites to propagate their message. Through the writers association, students from prestigious universities were attracted towards naxalism. While through an organisation like Jan Natya Mandali, the peasantry was influenced. To counter the state and establish its sway over a vast area, naxalism needed the massive economic funds and procurement of advanced technology. The present paper aims to focus on the following issues: firstly , what are the latest technologies that Maoists are able to incorporate in the warfare against the Indian state; secondly , what are the weapons they are procuring; thirdly, what are the sources of the weapon procurement; fourthly , how they are able to fund their procurement; fifthly, what are the efforts made by the Indian state to tackle these challenges posed by the Maoists.