Need for strategy
First Edit
“The lessons of kidnap should be learnt quickly.”
The release of three policemen who had been abducted by Maoists in Bihar has brought relief to everyone but it has also been clouded by the killing of an assistant sub-inspector, Lucas Tete, by the kidnappers. Though the nine-day hostage drama did not entirely turn tragic, it provides a warning and a lesson which the Centre and the state governments heed and learn from. The release is claimed to be unconditional, but it is possible that there could have been an unpublicised deal on the basis of the demands made by the Maoists. It is also likely that the Maoists were under pressure because of the wide publicity gained by the kidnapping incident and might have relented on their demands. But the issues thrown by the incident go beyond the particular situation created by its call for better and more effective responses by governments.
The Bihar government was taken unawares by the Maoists’ action and was found groping in the dark. Chief minister Nitish Kumar had rejected the proposal for a central command for anti-Maoist activities and had emphasised the need to focus on development in order to fight the threat posed by the Maoists. The development-oriented plan may have been a good strategy but tactically it was wrong on part of the state government to isolate itself from the national campaign. The Maoist problem is present in many other states, which have borders with Bihar and a common strategy is important. Nitish also underestimated the Maoist threat in his state and was not prepared to face it when it blew up in his face.
At the Centre also there is confusion, with the government’s declared policies being questioned by important leaders within the Congress and the UPA. Though there is talk of talks with the Maoists, there is no clear idea about how to proceed and what the parameters of the talks might be. Hostage-taking and demand for a price present a particularly difficult problem for all governments. In principle it is inadvisable to succumb to blackmail and accept any demand at the point of a gun but the emotional and political situation created by an abduction drama puts intense pressure on governments, as they will be damned either way. The Bihar drama has exposed the vulnerability and helplessness of governments in dealing with such situations. Unfortunately it can happen elsewhere also with worse consequences if the lessons are not learnt.
