I see it in a more pragmatic manner compared to fanboys who dont understand politics and its solutions.
@indo, below are my takes on ur specific pointers.
1)Why doesn't the GoI go all out against them ?
Coz they are not some insurgents who want a seperate country. They are the victims of age old soviet era policies which have to be worked upon for benefit of ur citizens rather than eradicating the citizens themselves. Afterall what Maoists want is rational as ompared to other terrorists in the region. Maoists only want their share for the govt activities on THEIR land. Till date, coz of bullshit land laws, not only maoists but common poor of India suffered.
2)Do they enjoy local people's support ?
Yes they do and rightly so. We in our A/c rooms will not understand their plight but locals do. Afterall, 90+ % of Below poverty line people are all tribals. Now dont they have right to life. And their actions become even more justified when govt programs for the poor are misused coz of red tapism and corruption at lower levels. Afterall, its govt figures that only 15/100 rupees from govt programs reach the last target person. Now u say, is our govt and their lack of political will responsible for maoist's plight or they themselves? Afterall, its not a crime to fight for your right to life.
3)Do we lack the required equipment and expertise to tackle them ?
No we dont. But somewhere or the other the govt knows that simply calling for their heads will be seen as inhumane for the already inhumanly treated people. Thats why nowadays u see, central govt call for talks and desire to solve their problems. But on ground their plight in not tackled seriously. But again, to a large extent things are been taken care and catered too. Some reason why so many maoists have surrendered. Now with growing economy, India is able to bring their life above the poverty line of not out of poverty. With time, they all will get into mainstream. Its just govt has to be sincere and focussed to bring them in mainstream. As we say, its not easy to undo a centuries old menace. It takes its own sweet time.
4)What are we waiting for , what scenario ( comparable to 26/11 or 9/11 ) will force us to react ?
Dont comapre 26/11 to Maoists. They are not interested in killing anyone outside their region. They are not some jihadis. They fight in their own forests coz their idea is to safeguard it from govt force who wanna sell it to corporates for almost free or peanuts. theats exactly why they are anti capitalism.
5)Why are we not so sensitive regarding the deaths of CRPF jawans , police , CoBRA's by the Maoist ?
Point is both the sides are our own people. Poor CRPFs have to go into their region and flush them out so obviously they retaliate. Instead of CRPFs, they need govt partnership for their land and growth of this country.
6)Many people in India and this forum treat them as "criminals" and not as "terrorists" , what is this assertion based on ?
I mean they are fighting against our state.
Terrorist is one who terrorize innocents. Maoists never came to Mumbai or Delhi to kill commoner. They only try to safeguard their region from external insurgents/occupiers coz their region has the best minerals that india can provide. Now govt want to own it in name of govt property which it never was for millenia.
7)How can our politicians allow them to control swathes of land ?
Coz its theirs and always was. Its their livelyhood. Just coz India is a democracy doesnt mean it can snatch any land unlawfully. BAsic funda of democracy is rule of land. Even u agree, our Land laws were obselete and half century old. With latest reforms, maoism will only decline and the way to move forward rather than suppressing it. Afterall, they r not asking freedom from India but freedom from atrocity and treatment as per Indian law.