Andhra Pradesh   

Maoists go tech savvy

K. Srinivas Reddy

HYDEARBAD: Maoists' arsenal of rocket launchers, explosive devices and Kalashnikovs has now got a technology edge.

Technology tools, such as the mobile telephony, Internet, high frequency wireless communication, are now being used effectively to outsmart the security forces in as many as 13 States by rebels waging an armed struggle.

Despite having a clear advantage in this field, security agencies find it increasingly difficult to outwit the naxalites, as the latter have now achieved the perfect fusion of mixing technology with the guerilla tactics of speed, surprise and secrecy.

The Maoist cadres across the country now use ultra modern icon wireless sets, which are powerful enough to enable the rebels to keep in touch over a geographical spread of 40 km in forest areas, where interference due to high-rise structures is nil. In Bastar forests of Chattisgarh, the Maoists are known to have built a wireless repeater station further enhancing the radius of wireless communication coverage.

Interception

The use of such modern communication sets has enhanced the security cover of the naxalites, with the `enemy' movement getting reported in a jiffy. More worrying is the capability of these sets, which can intercept the wireless communication of the police. On a recent occasion, the Maoists in Bastar have recorded the instructions of the Bijapur SP to all police stations on the assault to be launched on the naxalite cadres.

Technology has not only improved the internal communication, the extensive use of Internet has enabled the Maoist leadership to garner support from other Marxist-Leninist-Maoist organisations across the world. Security agencies assert that emails have come extremely handy to the Maoists in different States to communicate with each other. As a matter of ensuring secrecy, the Maoists use encryption software in sending emails.

The use of Internet has become so common that the naxalite leadership has recently cautioned its cadres about the precautions to be taken. A circular issued by the CPI (Maoist) politburo very recently asks the naxalite cadres not to fix up appointments using the Internet and cautions that encryption software must be used whenever a message is sent.

The circular also makes it compulsory that different email IDs with difficult passwords have to be used. The other caution that the cadre should not use a single cyber cafe to send messages to different leaders. "Do not use computers owned by party sympathisers to send or receive emails, store or download documents."

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