Malkangiri: In a bid to lure security forces into an ambush, the Maoists seem to have adopted a new war tactics on the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border.
During a recent operation in Sukma and Dantewada forest areas of the neighbouring state, the jawans recovered four effigies dressed up as Naxals carrying ‘guns’. It is believed that they were planted to lure the security forces into an ambush.
This new strategy by the Maoists comes at a time when the security forces have launched an operation in borders areas to flush out the left wing extremists.
Recently, a team of jawans during a raid in Sukma opened fire at some effigies taking them for Maoists. When there was no return fire, the jawans realised that they were trapped. The team seized the effigies and returned from the forest. Luckily, no Maoists were present in the jungle to attack the jawans.
Apart from using the effigies as traps for ambush, the ultras, it is believed, also use them as tools to get alerts. In case the jawans fire at the effigies, the gunshots can give a wakeup call to Maoists who might be sleeping nearby.
It is assumed that this strategy is the brainchild of Keshav Rao, who has recently taken charge of the Maoist movement after general secretary of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) Muppala Lakshman Rao alias Ganapathi stepped down.
According to reports, Keshav is planning IED blasts for Naxals. It is believed that he is adept in making spike holes, motorcycle bombs, pressure bombs and syringe bombs.
PNN