South Asia Terrorism Portal
CHT: Violent factionalism Giriraj Bhattacharjee Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
On August 23, 2022, in a gunfight with the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) cadres killed a UPDF member, Shyamal Chakma, at Kattoli Tripurachhara in Rangamati District. The gunfight took place in the bordering area of two upazilas (Sub-districts) –Naniarchar and Langadow.
On July 17, 2022, a UPDF member Uttam Kumar Tripura (25), was killed during a gunfight between two factions of the UPDF in Taidang at Matiranga upazila in Khagrachari District. Another UPDF activist, Chigon Chizi Chakma, was injured in the incident. The gunfight took place between the UPDF faction led by Prashit Bikash Kheesa and the UPDF-Democratic (UPDF-D).
On May 12, 2022, unidentified gunmen killed a former activist of the UPDF, Lakshmi Chandra Chakma, (45) at his home in the Shilchhori area under the Barkal Upazila of Rangamati District.
On March 5, unidentified gunmen abducted and killed a former PCJSS member, Anumang Marma, (45), in the Rowangchhari Upazila of Bandarban District.
According to partial data compiled by the Institute for Conflict Management, 627 people have been killed in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) in such fratricidal clashes since the signing of the CHT Peace Accord in 1997 (data till August 28, 2022). These include 321 members of UPDF-Prasit Khisa, 204 members of PCJSS-Santu Larma, 86 members of the PCJSS-M. N. Larma, 10 members of UPDF-D, and six members of PCJSS-Reformation.
After the signing of the Accord in 1997, peace was expected to prevail in CHT, however, PCJSS witnessed multiple splits. The first occurred in 1997 itself, when Prasit Bikash Khisa formed UPDF-Prasit Khisa, after leaving PCJSS in protest against the Accord. The second split was in 2007, when a faction led by Sudha Sindho Khisa, formed PCJSS-Reformation. The parent group split again, into PCJSS-M.N. Larma and PCJSS-Santu Larma, in 2010.
In the meantime, UPDF-Prasit Khisa also suffered a split, with the formation of UPDF-D, led by Tapan Jyoti Chakma aka Borma aka Jalwa, in November 2017. All these splinter groups are currently working as regional political parties. The other regional political parties active in CHT are the Somo Adhikar Andolon and Parbattya Bangalee Chattra Parishad.
Additionally, according to a December 3, 2021, report based on data from law enforcement agencies, since December 2, 1997 (the signing of the treaty), the various CHT based armed groups had killed 16 Security Force personnel, and 190 Bengali civilians.
According to the SATP database, in the first eight months and 28 days of 2022, incidents of violence have increased in CHT, as compared to the previous year. 13 such fatalities have been recorded in 2022 (till August 28, 2022), as compared to 10 fatalities in through 2021. In 2022, the fatalities included three members of UPDF-Prasit Khisa, and one member of the PCJSS-Santu Larma group.
Among the reasons for the rise is the emergence of the ethnicity based armed group, the Kuki-Chin National Front (KCNF) and the Marma National Party in CHT, which has challenged the existing groups like PCJSS and UPDF. The KCNF, an armed organization, led by erstwhile PCJSS member Nathan Loncheu Bawm, appeared in 2021. Although it was first announced as the Kuki-Chin National Development Organization (KNDO), its latest avatar as KCNF was declared after KNDO’s head, Nathan Loncheu Bawm, failed to contest the 2018 elections. KCNF’s main demand is the formation of an autonomous state within the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Significantly, KCNF does not endorse the 1997 Accord. On December 30, 2021, KCNF, on its Facebook page, posted,
In 2022, four persons have been killed by KCNF in two incidents
On June 21, 2022, unidentified gunmen killed three people, Subhash Chandra Tripura (30), Brishochandra Tripura (50), and Dhanrang Tripura (15), at Saijam Para in Ward-2 of the Baratholi Union in Bilaichari upazila, Rangamati District. Later, KCNF, also known as the 'Bawm Party', claimed responsibility, stating that its 'special commando force' had successfully carried out an attack on the "the basement camp of the terrorist JSS' armed wing JLA", adding, "three members of the JLA force were killed on the spot."
On April 17, 2022, KCNF militants killed a PCJSS member, Action Chakma, in the Tanchangya Para area of the Barthali Union, Bilaichari Upazila, Rangamati District.
Meanwhile, the Marma National Party (also known as the Mog Party), which emerged in 2018, remains active in the Rajasthali area of Rangamati District and some places in Bandarban District (especially the Sadar area). In 2022, five fatalities in three incidents were attributed to this group.
On June 25, 2022, after a "gunfight between two armed groups", the Police recovered the bullet-riddled body of a PCJSS man, identified as Abhishek Chakma (35), from the Rajasthali upazila of Rangamati District,
March 22, 2022, at least three MNP cadres were killed during a gunfight between PCJSS and MNP in the Rajasthali area of Rangamati District.
January 3, 2022, a member of PCJSS was shot dead by gunmen while visiting his father-in-law's house at Lama in Bandarban District. The deceased was identified as Monkyaching Marma (35).
Violent ethnic assertions have led to persistent discord and will provoke further fratricidal killings. The efforts of a consensual peace in CHT have little possibility of success in such vicious milieu.
Even as several provisions of the 1997 Accord remain unimplemented, the UPDF has proposed a new CHT Accord. The UPDF faction led by Prasit Bikash Khisha has approached the Government through a facilitator, former Bangladeshi Army Major Emdadul Islam. Major (Retd.) Islam supposedly played a key role in facilitating the signing of the 1997 agreement as well.
On June 9, 2022, the UPDF, submitted a 66-page peace proposal through Major Islam to the Bangladesh Government. Angya Marma, 'convener' of the UPDF's Khagrachhari chapter, stated that the proposal was the result of several meetings with 'government representatives' since 2019, and added,
On June 13, 2022, UPDF chief Prasit Bikash Khisha tried to bring PCJSS on board. Khisha wrote to PCJSS chairman Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, offering an apology for not consulting with the PCJSS before submitting the peace proposal to the Government. Khisha wrote,
According to reports, among the 72 articles of the 1997 Peace Accord, 48 have already been implemented fully and 15 partially, while nine were ‘in the process of implementation’. Further, five meetings of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Accord Implementation and Monitoring Committee have happened so far. The latest one was held on 7 December 2021 at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka.
On June 13, 2022, in response to the UPDF’s offer of a new accord, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan stated that the government had yet to receive the formal proposal. Khan added, “We always want peace. We are doing everything we can to keep peace. We welcome if they come to peace talks." Although the Minister’s statements indicated a positive intent, no further details regarding responses in this context, from the Government or PCJSS, are available.
The lack of response from PCJSS is understandable, as a new accord would undermine its legitimacy as a group that championed the case of Jumma people. Moreover, PCJSS believes that the remaining groups, such as PCJSS-Reformation and UPDF are the ‘creations’ of the Army, to undermine PCJSS.
Meanwhile, according to December 2, 2021, report, between 2013 and 2021, Security Forces arrested 1,977 tribal armed terrorists, recovered 812 firearms and 12,851 rounds of ammunition. Through 2022, Security Forces have continued to put pressure on these armed groups.
On July 28, 2022, Security Forces killed suspected activist of PCJSS, Nikhil Kumar Das (35), in a gunfight in the Chowdhurychhara area of Kaptai upazila, Rangamati District.
April 8, 2022, Security Forces arrested UPDF member Prashant Thanchangya (52), from the Kharikhyong area of Rangamati Sadar upazila, Rangamati District.
February 5, 2022, Army personnel exchanged fire with UPDF cadres and later demolished a training center at Jarulchhari in Khagrachari District. Army personnel recovered training materials and documents from the camp.
February 2, 2022, an Army trooper and three members of PCJSS-Santu Larma were killed during an exchange of fire in the Ruma upazila of Bandarban District. The deceased trooper was identified as Habibur Rahman, a senior warrant officer. The Army team recovered an SMG and 249 bullets, three guns and five bullets, four uniforms and BDT 52,900.
Further, on May 26, 2022, Home Minister Khan declared that the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) would work on the CHT's security,
The deployment of APBn is part of the deployment at 30 camps out of 240 vacant temporary camps in the region. However, there is resistance from PCJSS on the deployment of forces, citing violation of the CHT Accord. On July 2, 2022, 'information and publicity secretary' of PCJSS Mangal Kumar Chakma wrote,
There is a pressing need to control the armed factions to contain violence and restore peace to CHT. However, a broad-based review of the 1997 Accord with various stakeholders to rectify the misgivings of the hill residents, especially related to the issue of land ownership and settlers from the plains, is necessary if a consensus is to be forged to establish a sustainable peace in the CHT region.
Odisha: Malkangiri: Mainstreaming Maoists Deepak Kumar Nayak Research Associate, Institute for Conflict Management
On August 22, 2022, as many as 150 Communist party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) ‘militia’ (the Maoists’ people’s army) members surrendered before the Police and Border Security Force (BSF) at the Janbai Company Operating Base (COB) under the Ralegada Gram Panchayat (village level local self-Government institution) in the ‘Swabhiman Anchal’ (earlier known as the ‘cut-off area’) under the Chitrakonda Police Station limits of Malkangiri District. Prior to the surrender, a group of ‘militia’ members demolished a ‘martyrs’ memorial pillar’ erected by, and burnt effigies of, the Maoists. The Maoist ‘militia’ members also took pledges not to further help the Maoists in any of their activities, abjuring violence, and to help the Government in all public welfare activities.
The present surrender followed the surrender of 50 militia members before the State Director General of Police (DGP) Sunil Bansal, on June 2, 2022, at the Jantri COB, and another instance of surrender of 295 ‘militia’ members on June 11, 2022.
Indeed, on June 11, 2022, as many as 295 Maoist 'jan militia' members, including village committee members, sympathisers and members of the Gana Natya Sangha (GNS), a cultural wing of the Maoists, of villages Dhakadpadar, Dabuguda, Taber and Arlingpada in the Jantri Gram Panchayat under Jodamba Police Station limits in Malkangiri District, surrendered before the Police and District Administration of Malkangiri at the Jantri BSF COB. Being encouraged by the surrender of local ‘militias’ on June 2, and seeing the development works by the Government in the area, they decided to join the mainstream and lead a peaceful life. They exhibited their opposition to the Maoist ideology by burning the Maoist dress materials and raised slogans such as “Maobadi Murdabad” (down with Maoists).
On June 2, 2022, as many as 50 Maoist ‘militia’ members, including two women, surrendered in the presence of DGP Sunil Bansal, at the Jantri Police Camp in the Swabhiman Anchal of Malkangiri District. The ‘militia’ members submitted a joint written letter to the DGP before their surrender, requesting him to close all cases pending against them in different Police Stations of Malkangiri District.
According to partial data collated by the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), at least 496 Naxalites [Left Wing Extremists, LWEs] have surrendered in Malkangiri District since the beginning of 2022 (data till August 28). During the corresponding period in 2021, six Naxalites had surrendered in the district and, through 2021, the number remained at six. A total of 3,708 Naxalites has surrendered in the district since June 15, 2003, when SATP recorded the first incident of surrender, with three Naxalites, including two women, wanted for their involvement in a number of criminal cases, surrendering before the Police at Malkangiri.
Meanwhile, SFs have arrested two Naxalites in the District in the current year (data till August 28, 2022), in addition, to one cadre in 2021. A total of 303 Naxalites has been arrested since January 2, 2002, when the first arrest incident was recorded by SATP, with the arrest of a Naxalite of the People’s War Group (PWG), who carried a cash award of INR 40,000 on his head, during a joint operation by the State Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Chitrakonda, Malkangiri.
Malkangiri District has not recorded any Naxalite fatality in the current year, thus far (data till August 28, 2022). The last fatality recorded in this category was on October 12, 2021, when three Maoists, including two women cadres, were shot dead in an encounter during a gunfight near Tulsi Pahad (Hill) under Maithili Police limits in Malkangiri District. A Special Operations Group (SOG) trooper also sustained injuries during the exchange of fire. A total of 112 Naxalite fatalities (data till August 27, 2022) have been recorded in the district, since March 6, 2000, when SATP started documenting Naxalite violence in the State. The maximum number of Maoist fatalities, 30, was recorded in 2016.
On the other hand, the SFs have not lost any personnel in the current year, thus far (data till data till August 28, 2022). The last SF fatality was recorded on August 28, 2019, when a trooper of the District Voluntary Force (DVF) was killed during an exchange of fire between SFs and the Maoists at in the Swabhiman Anchal area, near Bonda Ghat, in Malkangiri District. One CPI-Maoist cadre was also killed in the encounter, while one SOG trooper sustained bullet injuries in the encounter. A maximum of 60 SF fatalities were recorded in 2008.
Significantly, the overall SF:Naxalite kill ratio has remained marginally in favour of the SFs, at 1:1.03, since March 6, 2000. However, the SFs have been increasingly dominant since 2009; (January 1, 2009, to August 26, 2022), killing 93 Naxalites, as against a loss of 18 of their own personnel, yielding an emphatic kill ratio of 1:5.16.
Malkangiri occupies an area of 5,791 square kilometres, with 2,321 square kilometres, 40.08 per cent, under dense forest cover. The district is located at the troubled tri-junction of the Naxalite-affected States of Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. The heavily forested areas encompass the Podia, Maithili, Kalimela Blocks; the Govindpalli areas of Khairput Block; the ‘cut-off areas’ of Kudumulu Gumma Block; the open forest areas of the Korukonda and Kalimela Blocks; and part of the Malkangiri Block. The terrain and geographical proximity of the district to contiguous Maoist-affected regions in neighbouring States (Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh). Specifically, the district shares its borders with Naxalite-affected Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh to the East; Sukma in Chhattisgarh to the West; Koraput in Odisha to the North and East; and Godavari in Andhra Pradesh to the South, making Malkangiri an ideal spot for a guerrilla stronghold and safe haven.
Such was the domination of the Maoists and the remoteness of the Cut-off area, that a bridge that was planned to connect 151 villages with the rest of Odisha by road in the 1980s, could not be built till 2018. What is now the Swabhiman Anchal area, was a virtual liberated zone for the Maoist rebels, who fiercely guarded it against the entry of SFs into the region. According to a statement by the paramilitary forces on April 2, 2022, it was very difficult on the part of the civil administration to move into interior areas in the years of Maoist dominance. Thus, the BSF deployed in the Malkangiri area, stated,
However, the security scenario improved after the successive twin encounters of October 24 and 27, 2016. In the twin encounters in the Bejingi forest area, between Ramgarh and Panasput, in the Malkangiri District the Maoists lost 30 leadership elements, as well as their sense of authority and liberty in their erstwhile safe haven and long-time stronghold. Finally, on July 26, 2018, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the Gurupriya Bridge, the 910-metre bridge that ended six decades of isolation of 30,000 villagers in the 'cut-off area' of Malkangiri District.
Since, several other parameters also suggests that the Maoists are losing their sway in Malkangiri. Apart from the mass disillusionment of Maoist 'militia' members, there has been visible decline in the other indicators of the Maoist activities. Just two major incidents (each involving three or more fatalities) have been reported since the October 2016 twin encounters (one each in 2018 and 2021). At peak, five such incidents were recorded in 2015. There has also been a decline in incidents of explosion orchestrated by the rebels, with three in 2017, two in 2019 and one, one each in 2020 and 2021. At peak, 17 such incidents were recorded in 2010. Nine arson related incidents have been recorded since the October 2016 twin encounters, two each in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020; and one in 2021. At peak, 13 such incidents were recorded in 2009.
Significantly, the BSF, which has been deployed in Odisha's Malkangiri and neighbouring Koraput District - considered, at one time, as a CPI-Maoist bastion - has asserted that the region is now free from of Maoists. After visiting Malkangiri District, particularly the Swabhiman Anchal, the erstwhile Maoist hot bed, Inspector General Satish Chandra Budakoti of the BSF observed, on March 17, 2022,
Further, on March 25, 2022, addressing the State Assembly, Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal, declared that LWE had been dealt with firmly during the preceding five years, and added,
The Government – both at the Centre and in the State – has taken several measures to further developmental and security measures in the region. Indeed, on June 19, 2021, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) included Malkangiri in its list of ‘25 Most Affected Districts’, from eight States across India. Further, UMHA included Malkangiri, along with nine other Districts of the State (Bargarh, Bolangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, Rayagada, and Sundargarh), among the 70 Naxal-affected Districts in 10 States across India, to be covered under the Centre’s ‘Security Related Expenditure (SRE)’ scheme, which funds focused operations against the rebels.
Regrettably, some Maoist violence against civilians persists. According to SATP data, one civilian fatality has already been recorded in the current year [data till August 28, 2022]. The latest incident occurred on January 15, 2022, when CPI-Maoist cadres killed a civilian, Ananda, after holding a ‘Praja Court’ (‘people's court’, a kangaroo court organized by the Maoists), at Kerimiti village under the Mahupadar Block (administrative unit) in Malkangiri District. Ananda was allegedly beaten black and blue by the rebels and then a ‘death sentence’ was pronounced against him. He was subsequently burnt alive.
The total number of civilian fatalities in the district, since March 6, 2000, is 138, with a maximum of 18 such killings recorded twice, in 2013 and 2014.
Currently, 29 BSF Companies (each deploying about 80 personnel on the ground), along with eight teams of the SOG and 68 DVF units, are deployed in Malkangiri to counter the Maoist rebels.
The Maoist menace cannot yet be written off in Malkangiri, despite the most successful twin operation ever conducted by the SFs against the CPI-Maoist on October 24 and 27, 2016, and the sustained consolidation since. The Governments and security establishment will have to sustain pressure against the rebels, to ensure that the little residual activity that remains is finally eliminated.
Weekly Fatalities: Major Conflicts in South Asia August 22-28, 2022
Civilians
Security Force Personnel
NS
Total
AFGHANISTAN
INDIA
Jammu and Kashmir
INDIA (Left-Wing Extremism)
Chhattisgarh
India (Total)
PAKISTAN
Balochistan
KP
PAKISTAN (Total)
Total (South Asia)
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The South Asia Intelligence Review (SAIR) is a weekly service that brings you regular data, assessments and news briefs on terrorism, insurgencies and sub-conventional warfare, on counter-terrorism responses and policies, as well as on related economic, political, and social issues, in the South Asian region.
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