Naxals target air-borne netas

Home ministry beefs up security following intelligence report that CPI (Maoists) plan aerial attack in Gadchiroli and Chandrapur

Home ministry beefs up security following intelligence report that CPI (Maoists) plan aerial attack in Gadchiroli and Chandrapur

Following threats of an aerial attack from CPI (Maoists), the home ministry has beefed up security in Naxalite-affected areas of Vidarbha like Gadchiroli and Chandrapur.

The home department will review the security of VIPs and VVIPs before campaigning for the Assembly election kicks off in mid-September

Maoists have targeted government helicopters on four occasions earlier, the latest being in May this year, according to an intelligence report, a copy of which is with MiD DAY.
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It also suggests similar attacks can be expected during this Assembly election and hence, the home ministry has been compelled to beef up security at airports and helipads, especially before and after takeoffs.

Threat: Rahul Gandhi leaves in a helicopter after addressing an election rally earlier this year. With the Assembly election campaigning beginning in October, politicians may be targets of Naxalites.

Arif Naseem Khan, state home minister (urban), said, "Yes, we have received a tip-off about such a threat. We will take every precaution during aerial visits of netas; extra security will be provided to them."

Book of secrets

According to the report, a book titled Guerrilla Air Defense Anti-Aircraft Weapons and Techniques for Guerilla Forces published by Palladin Press, Colorado, US, was recovered from Maoists operating in the area earlier this year.

The book deals with the threat posed by use of air power by security forces against guerilla outfits and the various counter measures to resist and repulse such assaults.

The book guides forces to engage enemy helicopters with small weapons, when they are hovering or moving slowly.
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Guerillas have been advised to target the blade of the chopper. Because of this, bullets fall on the engine after hitting the chopper and destroy it, inform sources.

In The Past

The intelligence report also makes a mention of a committee circular distributed by CPI (Maoists) in December 2007, when the naxalites advised their cadres to plant claymore mines and launch grenades at helipads and landing sites, and adopt improvised air attack techniques using tripod mounted machine guns.