Sukma’s highway turns graveyard for security forces

A nondescript stretch of road that disappears into a dirt track and a thick canopy of forests in the heart of Chhattisgarh’s red corridor is at the centre of a bruising years-long conflict between the government and Maoist rebels.

The insurgents control the desperately poor region that has seen little government intervention or development in decades, and have struck security forces twice in two months to stop construction.

In March, suspected Maoist rebels ambushed a road-opening party of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and killed 12. On Monday, the militants struck again, killing 26 in the worst attack on the force in seven years.

The government says the increasing intensity of violence indicates one thing: That the rebels don’t want any road links to pierce their stronghold of Sukma. For the rebels, the roads mean quick access for government troops into their heartland, and cancelling their turf advantage of hostile terrain and guerrilla warfare. The government knows this and, hence, has plan for a pincer grip on the rebels.

The state is building two roads, Injiram-bheji and Dornapal – Jagargonda, that will connect National Highway 30 that will connect state capital Raipur with the remote, rebel-held areas. Construction of the roads began roughly a decade ago but has pro gressed at a snail’s pace with con tractors unwilling to risk work ing in a region littered with land mines and booby traps.

Rebels targeted the Injiram Bheji road in its March 11 attack On Monday, it focused on stalling the Dornapal – Jagargonda stretch. The roads are supposed to meet each other deep inside Maoist territory, a nightmare scenario for the rebels who are far outnumbered by government forces. Moreover, it would enable the state administration to bring in schools, hospitals and ancil lary development to wean away local villagers from the rebels.

When HT spoke to senior offi cials after the March 11 attack most of them appeared certain that the roads would break the back of insurgency in the region

“Security forces will move with ease in the area after this road is built and this is troubling the Maoists. We are entering their core through this road,” said DM Awasthi, specia director general of police (anti Maoist operations).

The attacks hurt construction More than 20km of the Injiram road is left while just seven of the 56 km of the Jagargonda road has been built. But CRPF is defiant.

“Maoists are attacking us in frustration. Inka jungle raaj khatam karna hai iss road ko banaake (we have to end their lawless reign by building this road),” said Kumar. Less than a week after the March 11 strike work on the road resumed.