Guerrillas' Call Ambush Tactic Still Takes A Heavy Toll On Commandos

Time of India

a day ago

Nagpur: The 'call ambush' strategy unleashed by guerrillas has exacted a heavier toll on security forces than jungle encounters in Maoist-hit states and the death of additional superintendent of police Akash Rao Giripunje in a IED blast in Sukma earlier this week reignited concerns over the deadly tactic.
This calculated guerrilla warfare method, which exploits routine administrative procedures, has prompted security forces to overhaul their standard operating procedures, yet the threat remains formidable, said a senior security official.
The 'call ambush' follows a sinister pattern. First, Maoists orchestrate arson in a village, often coercing locals to contact police for a spot 'panchanama' — a formal investigation to document losses for compensation claims, which is integral to the probe.
When security personnel respond, they are lured into a trap where Maoists execute a three-pronged strategy — rigging the area with improvised explosive devices (IEDs), detonating blasts to disorient the commandos, and unleashing indiscriminate gunfire.
The killing of ASP Giripunje in Sukma exemplifies this tactic. Responding to a villager's call to probe an arson incident, Giripunje and his team were ambushed in a meticulously planned attack involving IEDs and gunfire, leaving no chance for retaliation.
In Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, a hotbed of Maoist activity, 'call ambushes' have been a recurring menace.
Commandos in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district have suffered heavy casualties from 'call ambushes.' In 2009, Maoists killed 51 security personnel in the district in different incidents, with a particularly devastating incident near Markegaon in February, where 15 cops were ambushed while heading to conduct a 'panchanama' following an arson attack.
Prompted by villagers under Maoist coercion, the small contingent was unprepared for the assault, with Maoists rigging the area with explosives and opening fire, killing all the 15.
Also in 2009, a similar 'call ambush' led to the killing of 16 security personnel, including around six women cops near Hattigota in Dhanora tehsil of north Gadchiroli. In the same year, the Maoists deployed similar strategies to wipe out 17 cops from Laheri outpost in south Gadchiroli.
In 2019, another 'call ambush' in Jambhukheda, Kurkheda taluka, claimed 13 policemen, who were responding to a panchanama request.
"We urge villagers in Gadchiroli to get the panchanama done through video calls and such methods or delay the process before sanitising the area, deploy bomb detection and disposal squads and move after opening roads which are safe for movements of troopers," said a senior official of Maharashtra police.
In Chhattisgarh in April 2021, a similar ambush in Sukma district killed 22 security personnel when forces were lured to a Maoist-controlled area in the pretext of an operation. The Sukma attack in 2025 underscored Maoists' continued ability to exploit community-driven requests, turning routine duties into deadly traps.
These incidents highlight Maoists' strategic exploitation of administrative protocols.
Beyond Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, 'call ambushes' have plagued other states in the Red corridor. In Jharkhand's Latehar district, a 2021 ambush killed five policemen responding to a 'panchanama' call. In Odisha's Malkangiri district, multiple casualties were reported in 2023 due to similar traps.
The tactic's success lies in exploiting the predictability of police responses, turning procedural duties into opportunities for attack.
The repeated success of 'call ambushes' has forced security forces to adapt. In Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and other LWE states, police now rely on technology to minimise risks. Video calls, drone surveillance, and remote assessments have become integral to SOPs, allowing forces to verify situations without immediate exposure.
In 2023, Chhattisgarh police began using drones extensively after a series of ambushes, a practice now standard across Maoist-hit states. The guerrilla arsenal also includes 'mobile warfare,' where insurgents from multiple locations converge at an ambush point, amplifying attack impact.
This, combined with 'call ambushes,' represents two most perilous strategies faced by security forces. The convergence of fighters makes attacks unpredictable, while manipulation of villagers adds psychological warfare.