Police build bridges with tribals to keep Maoists out

After the deadly attack by Maoists on the forest departments office at Palakkad in Kerala in December 2014, stray incidents of attacks by Maoists have been reported across the border. A few posters too cropped up during the Assembly poll in May suspected to be pasted by the Maoists calling for boycott of elections. Though security has been tightened in the border areas the police realised that such measures would be of little help without the assistance of people living in the tribal pockets along the border. 

The 10 permanent check posts and the two temporary check posts bordering Kerala in these districts can hardly help the police to have an effective control over infiltrations. The numerous lesser known routes through which the Maoists could easily sneak in cannot be identified with the limited manpower the police force have in the districts. But the routes and the Maoists can hardly be missed by the tribal people in the area. 

On realising the limitations, the police started getting closer to the people and started identifying their long pending demands and problems. “We formed the Naxal Special Division (NSD) and Left Wing Extremism (LWE) units for identifying the needs of the people and redressing them.  Our officers highlighted their plight to the concerned department officials and ensured that they are redressed,” said a police officer. “These continued efforts have been returning favourable response from the people living in these tribal hamlets. The people have started informing police on movement of strangers or any suspicious activities in the forests areas,” the officer added.  

Following the positive vibes, the police have started taking more efforts to take their relationship to the next level by improving their standard of living. Over the last three months the police have been conducting health camps and are trying to get jobs for the youth and are organising activities for creating better exposure for the youth and children of the hamlets who have hardly been out of their habitations.