Q+A-How big a threat are the Maoists in India?

By Bappa Majumdar

NEW DELHI, April 16 (Reuters) - Indian Maoists have stepped up attacks in east and central Indian states in a bid to disrupt the first phase of the country’s general election whichstarted on Thursday.

The rebels, who say they are fighting for the rights of poor farmers and landless labourers, surprised the police with simultaneous attacks in at least five states.

As in previous years, they have called for a boycott of elections. At least 18 people were killed, including five election officials and 11 police, as rebels set off landmines,snatched ballot boxes and destroyed voting machines.

Here are a series of questions and answers about the Maoists and their growing threat in India.

WHO ARE THE MAOISTS?

They started an armed struggle with a peasant revolt in Naxalbari village in West Bengal state in 1967 but were initially crushed by the Congress-led government. Afterregrouping in the 1980s, they began recruiting hundreds of poor villagers, arming them with bows and arrows and even rifles snatched from police and government armouries.

Indian authorities say they are led by Koteshwar Rao, alias Kishanjee, who is in charge of militant activities, and Ganapati (one name), the political leader. Neither have beenseen in public and remain hidden in dense forest bases.

HOW BIG IS THE MOVEMENT?

The rebels have an estimated 22,000 combatants in more than 180 of the country’s 630 districts, according to the government and the Institute for Conflict Management (IFCM), a New Delhithink-tank.

WHERE ARE THEY ACTIVE?

They operate across a “red corridor” stretching from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh to the central state of Chhattisgarh and into West Bengal.

HOW DO THEY GET ARMS?

They are in touch with other militant groups operating in India, including groups in Kashmir and the northeast, who help them. Police say they are equipped with automatic weapons,shoulder rocket launchers, mines and explosives.

DO THEY HAVE LINKS TO MAOISTS IN NEPAL?

India’s intelligence department suspect the Maoists of maintaining a link with their counterparts in Nepal, who have now become legitimate and have formed the government.

HOW BIG A THREAT ARE THEY TO INDIA’S STABILITY?

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the insurgency as the biggest internal security challenge since independence. More than 1,000 attacks were recorded last year, and the Maoistsregularly attack railway lines and factories, aiming to cripple economic activity. Police believe they have started to make inroads into cities and other urban areas.