Representative image showing security personnel during an operation against Maoists
Credit: PTI File Photo
The Communist Party of India (Maoist) has weakened over the years due to major setbacks and things have come to such a situation that are struggling to find enough members to fit into their Politburo.
According to a report in The Indian Express, the Politburo which is the highest decision making body of the party, are left with just four members -- Muppalla Laxman Rao, alias Ganpathy, Mallojula Venugopal Rao alias Abhay, Thippiri Thirupathi alias Deoji and Misir Besra alias Sagar.
Many reasons are being attributed to it including the death of key leaders and the arrest of their top clan.
“The command structure of the Maoists is now in tatters. Consistent intelligence-led operations and surrenders have left the organisation fragmented and disoriented,” Bastar IGP Sundarraj P was quoted as saying in the Indian daily.
Over the years security forces have tightened operations predominately removing high-ranking leaders.
Last month, Basavaraju, an influential Maoist leader was eliminated. He was the first grassroots member of the Naxal movement to be killed by the Chhattisgarh Police’s District Reserve Guard (DRG).
Sudhakar, another prominent Maoist leader after Basavaraju, was taken down on June 6 around the same area.
The Politburo numbers began to dwindle with the arrest of Sushil Roy in West Bengal.
In the years between 2008 and 2011, many leaders were taken into custody. At present, there are 14 members in the Central Committee CC inclusive of the four in the Politburo.