Ananya Dutta
KOLKATA: Communist Party of India (Maoist) spokesman Gour Chakraborty, arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, was remanded to police custody until July 18 by Chief Metropolitan Magistrate S.S. Anand at the Bankshal Court here on Monday.This followed the prosecution raising concerns about the serious nature of the offence. It said the accused was also wanted by the police in Lalgarh in another case.
Public prosecutor Satyabhushan Pathak asked the court to grant further police custody as the investigation proved that the accused was a key functionary of the banned CPI (Maoist).
Verification needed
He said that in the course of the investigation, Mr. Chakraborty had made revealing statements that needed verification. “The accused is also wanted by the police in Lalgarh for serious crimes under the Criminal Procedure Code,” he added.
The city court denied defence counsel Tapas Maiti’s plea for bail on account of Mr. Chakraborty’s frail health.
Mr. Maiti said the accused had denied that he was a member of the banned outfit and was merely its spokesman in the State.
Protests
The judgment was followed by protests outside the court premises by members of the Bandi Mukti Committee and the Ganapratirodh Manch who demanded an immediate release of Mr. Chakraborty. He was arrested by the Kolkata Police on June 23 outside the office of a private news channel.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Top Maoist leader lays down arms in Rayagada
7 Jul 2009, 0414 hrs IST, TNN
KORAPUT: At least three Maoists, including a rebel leader, surrendered before the police in Rayagada district on Monday. They confessed of having
been involved in the 2006 attacks in R Udaigiri and in the 2008 attack in Nayagarh.
The three rebels, who are in their late 20s, have been identified as Trinath Sambrutika alias Raju, commander of Chandrapur Dalam of Bansadhara division, A Prakash Kimbaka and Krishna Kuduruka. Police said the rebels had joined the movement in 2001. While Sambrutika was a Maoist leader, the others were cadres.
Rayagada SP Asish Kumar Singh said, "The trio has admitted to their involvement in a series of attacks in Rayagada, Gajapati and Nayagarh districts. After they realized that the Maoists movement has lost its meaning and was no longer a people's movement, they decided to put down arms and and join the mainstream."
He further said, "They will be duly rehabilitated. We hope this will encourage more rebels to surrender in the coming days."
On June 9, a Maoist couple, identified as Ghasiram Majhi alias Akash and his wife, had surrendered before the Rayagada police. Akash was second in the rank after Maosit leader Sabyasachi Panda in Orissa.
The arrest of 18 rebels and seizure of huge cache of ammunition in less than three months in the Maoist-dominated areas have come as a major boost to police in Rayagada, which is one of the worst-hit districts in Orissa.
On April 21, police arrested 40 year-old commander of Bansadhara divison P Rama Rao alias Shyam alias Uday. During interrogation, Udaya confessed of his involvement in the killing of Swami Laxmananda Swaraswati in August 2008 and also admitted that he had masterminded the attacks in R Udaygiri and Nayagarh.
KORAPUT: At least three Maoists, including a rebel leader, surrendered before the police in Rayagada district on Monday. They confessed of having
been involved in the 2006 attacks in R Udaigiri and in the 2008 attack in Nayagarh.
The three rebels, who are in their late 20s, have been identified as Trinath Sambrutika alias Raju, commander of Chandrapur Dalam of Bansadhara division, A Prakash Kimbaka and Krishna Kuduruka. Police said the rebels had joined the movement in 2001. While Sambrutika was a Maoist leader, the others were cadres.
Rayagada SP Asish Kumar Singh said, "The trio has admitted to their involvement in a series of attacks in Rayagada, Gajapati and Nayagarh districts. After they realized that the Maoists movement has lost its meaning and was no longer a people's movement, they decided to put down arms and and join the mainstream."
He further said, "They will be duly rehabilitated. We hope this will encourage more rebels to surrender in the coming days."
On June 9, a Maoist couple, identified as Ghasiram Majhi alias Akash and his wife, had surrendered before the Rayagada police. Akash was second in the rank after Maosit leader Sabyasachi Panda in Orissa.
The arrest of 18 rebels and seizure of huge cache of ammunition in less than three months in the Maoist-dominated areas have come as a major boost to police in Rayagada, which is one of the worst-hit districts in Orissa.
On April 21, police arrested 40 year-old commander of Bansadhara divison P Rama Rao alias Shyam alias Uday. During interrogation, Udaya confessed of his involvement in the killing of Swami Laxmananda Swaraswati in August 2008 and also admitted that he had masterminded the attacks in R Udaygiri and Nayagarh.
MLA fears Maoist fury
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Bhubaneswar, July 6: BJP MLA from G-Udayagiri, Manoj Pradhan today took his oath as a member of the Assembly.
Pradhan, who was released from the jail yesterday on a 15-day conditional bail, arrived at the Speaker’s office around 11.30am.
Soon after taking his oath, the MLA appealed to the Speaker to provide him security as he reportedly topped the Maoist hit list. So far, in G-Udaygiri, Naxalites have killed four RSS activists, besides eliminating VHP leader Laxamananda Saraswati and four of his associates.
The MLA was behind bars ever since his arrest on October 18, 2008, on charges of rioting and arson and was booked in 14 criminal cases, including seven charges of murder.
Earlier on Saturday, the court granted him bail on eight cases and conditional bail in six.
Talking to the media today Pradhan stressed upon his innocence and repeatedly said that he was not involved in any violence. “I never ventured out of my house during the riots and I do not know who filed the cases against me. The charges against me are false but I have complete trust in the judiciary and know that justice will be done,” said Pradhan.
He blamed the Naxalites of the murders of Swami Laxmananda and four of his associates at a Jalespeta ashram in August 2008. After Pradhan’s release, the leader reportedly first visited the ashram to offer his prayers.
When quizzed about the Kandhamal riots, Pradhan said peace would be possible in the block only when the government addresses the three main issues — land, fake certificate and conversion. Pradhan appealed to riot victims staying at relief camps to return home.
The MLA had fought and won the recent elections from behind bars defeating a senior Congress leader, Ajayanti Pradhan.
At the BJP state party office, senior party leaders K.V. Singhdeo, Jayanarayan Mishra, B.B. Harichandan and Panchanan Rout arranged a rousing reception for Pradhan.
Bhubaneswar, July 6: BJP MLA from G-Udayagiri, Manoj Pradhan today took his oath as a member of the Assembly.
Pradhan, who was released from the jail yesterday on a 15-day conditional bail, arrived at the Speaker’s office around 11.30am.
Soon after taking his oath, the MLA appealed to the Speaker to provide him security as he reportedly topped the Maoist hit list. So far, in G-Udaygiri, Naxalites have killed four RSS activists, besides eliminating VHP leader Laxamananda Saraswati and four of his associates.
The MLA was behind bars ever since his arrest on October 18, 2008, on charges of rioting and arson and was booked in 14 criminal cases, including seven charges of murder.
Earlier on Saturday, the court granted him bail on eight cases and conditional bail in six.
Talking to the media today Pradhan stressed upon his innocence and repeatedly said that he was not involved in any violence. “I never ventured out of my house during the riots and I do not know who filed the cases against me. The charges against me are false but I have complete trust in the judiciary and know that justice will be done,” said Pradhan.
He blamed the Naxalites of the murders of Swami Laxmananda and four of his associates at a Jalespeta ashram in August 2008. After Pradhan’s release, the leader reportedly first visited the ashram to offer his prayers.
When quizzed about the Kandhamal riots, Pradhan said peace would be possible in the block only when the government addresses the three main issues — land, fake certificate and conversion. Pradhan appealed to riot victims staying at relief camps to return home.
The MLA had fought and won the recent elections from behind bars defeating a senior Congress leader, Ajayanti Pradhan.
At the BJP state party office, senior party leaders K.V. Singhdeo, Jayanarayan Mishra, B.B. Harichandan and Panchanan Rout arranged a rousing reception for Pradhan.
Transport staff skip duty after attack, cops aloof
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Gaya, July 6: Fearing further attacks, 50 of the 90-odd drivers and conductors of Maharani Transport Limited, the company targeted by Naxalites over the weekend, have deserted work.
Three of the buses belonging to the transport company now lie abandoned in an area within the Dumaria police station limits, as the staff have refused to drive them back to the district headquarters’ office.
According to the owner of Maharani Transport Limited, Ravi Shankar Singh, alias Munna Singh, more than 50 members of his staff have not reported to duty after rebels abducted drivers and conductors of three buses — only to set them free later and torch the vehicles.
The incident occurred under the Dumaria police station limits, an area that has seen several Naxalite attacks in the past. In a letter addressed to the owner, the rebels made it clear that the buses were hijacked and torched because the company failed to pay “levy” to them.
Meanwhile, Munna Singh has regretted that the response of the district police has been weak and discouraging. He blamed the administration’s response for installing staff among the members of his staff. “No action has been taken against offenders nor have they been identified,” said Munna Singh.
When contacted, Gaya superintendent of police M.R. Naik said the three abandoned buses had been taken over by the police and are now safely parked near Dumaria police station. The vehicles would be handed over to the owner as and when the company asks for it, said he.
The SP also claimed that anti-Naxalite operation has been intensified in the wake of the Saturday and Sunday attacks.
Gaya, July 6: Fearing further attacks, 50 of the 90-odd drivers and conductors of Maharani Transport Limited, the company targeted by Naxalites over the weekend, have deserted work.
Three of the buses belonging to the transport company now lie abandoned in an area within the Dumaria police station limits, as the staff have refused to drive them back to the district headquarters’ office.
According to the owner of Maharani Transport Limited, Ravi Shankar Singh, alias Munna Singh, more than 50 members of his staff have not reported to duty after rebels abducted drivers and conductors of three buses — only to set them free later and torch the vehicles.
The incident occurred under the Dumaria police station limits, an area that has seen several Naxalite attacks in the past. In a letter addressed to the owner, the rebels made it clear that the buses were hijacked and torched because the company failed to pay “levy” to them.
Meanwhile, Munna Singh has regretted that the response of the district police has been weak and discouraging. He blamed the administration’s response for installing staff among the members of his staff. “No action has been taken against offenders nor have they been identified,” said Munna Singh.
When contacted, Gaya superintendent of police M.R. Naik said the three abandoned buses had been taken over by the police and are now safely parked near Dumaria police station. The vehicles would be handed over to the owner as and when the company asks for it, said he.
The SP also claimed that anti-Naxalite operation has been intensified in the wake of the Saturday and Sunday attacks.
Community policing in rebel den
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Dumka, July 6: After the killing of a Maoist top gun in an encounter yesterday, the deputy inspector-general of police, Dumka range, Murarilal Meena said that they would initiate community policing in the rebel-hit areas of the district soon.
He said the initiative would help them to win over the confidence of the masses.
“We will ask the deputy commissioners and police superintendents in the districts to look into implementation of government-sponsored welfare projects especially in the rural pockets so that people living in remote areas can benefit from it,” he said.
Meena added that the police would soon prepare a blueprint of the project for the community policing at Santhal Pargana. “Without demolishing their shelters in rural pockets, it is not possible to counter the Naxalite menaces here,” he said.
Observers here have welcomed Meena’s approach for community policing saying it would help in getting back the confidence of villagers.
They pointed out that after any major incidents like Naxalite ambush at hilltop Pokharia on April 26, 2008 or the attack on polling party on April 23, the police did not visit the area. “This helped the Maoist to repair their links with the people of the area in absence of any sustainable policing,” they said.
Dumka, July 6: After the killing of a Maoist top gun in an encounter yesterday, the deputy inspector-general of police, Dumka range, Murarilal Meena said that they would initiate community policing in the rebel-hit areas of the district soon.
He said the initiative would help them to win over the confidence of the masses.
“We will ask the deputy commissioners and police superintendents in the districts to look into implementation of government-sponsored welfare projects especially in the rural pockets so that people living in remote areas can benefit from it,” he said.
Meena added that the police would soon prepare a blueprint of the project for the community policing at Santhal Pargana. “Without demolishing their shelters in rural pockets, it is not possible to counter the Naxalite menaces here,” he said.
Observers here have welcomed Meena’s approach for community policing saying it would help in getting back the confidence of villagers.
They pointed out that after any major incidents like Naxalite ambush at hilltop Pokharia on April 26, 2008 or the attack on polling party on April 23, the police did not visit the area. “This helped the Maoist to repair their links with the people of the area in absence of any sustainable policing,” they said.
Two Naxals killed in Chhattisgarh; another ends life
Published: July 6,2009
Raipur , Jul 6 Two Naxals were today shot dead in an encounter in Chhattisgarh&aposs Narayanpur district as another Maoist committed suicide by consuming poison in a separate incident, police said.
"Two Naxalities including their commander Jairam were killed in an encounter near Chinari village of Narayanpur district," Additional Director General of Police (Naxals) Pawan Dev said.
The duo were killed when police retaliated firing by the Naxalities, he said, adding pipe bombs, weapons, and detonators.
were recovered from them.
In a separate incident, Dev said a Naxal commander committed suicide by consuming poison in Balrampur district.
The body of the deceased, Chhattan Singh, was recovered from Chalgali village, bordering Jharkhand.
According to police, some unresolved issues between Naxalities in Chhattisgarh and Orissa may be the reason behind the outlaw&aposs suicide.
Source: PTI
Raipur , Jul 6 Two Naxals were today shot dead in an encounter in Chhattisgarh&aposs Narayanpur district as another Maoist committed suicide by consuming poison in a separate incident, police said.
"Two Naxalities including their commander Jairam were killed in an encounter near Chinari village of Narayanpur district," Additional Director General of Police (Naxals) Pawan Dev said.
The duo were killed when police retaliated firing by the Naxalities, he said, adding pipe bombs, weapons, and detonators.
were recovered from them.
In a separate incident, Dev said a Naxal commander committed suicide by consuming poison in Balrampur district.
The body of the deceased, Chhattan Singh, was recovered from Chalgali village, bordering Jharkhand.
According to police, some unresolved issues between Naxalities in Chhattisgarh and Orissa may be the reason behind the outlaw&aposs suicide.
Source: PTI
Cop goes without salary & posting for 20 months
Express News Service First Published : 07 Jul 2009 05:42:00 AM ISTLast Updated :
HYDERABAD: In a first-of-its kind case in the history of the Andhra Pradesh Police, a DSP rank officer lodged a complaint with the AP State Human Rights Commission (APSHRC) against Director General of Police SSP Yadav and former Mahabubnagar district SP Charu Sinha alleging that he was being harassed for the last 20 months without any posting and salary.
APSHRC Chairman B Subhashan Reddy directed the DGP to submit a report by July 13. Interestingly, Charu Sinha, who was appointed East Godavari SP by the Election Commission in the run-up to the recent elections, is herself without a posting after the government transferred her.
In his petition, DSP M Madhav Reddy, whose last posting was as SDPO, Mahabubnagar district, stated that he had been without posting and salary since November 2007.
“I am not provided with the official vehicle and staff. Moreover, my promotion as Additional SP has also been put on hold,’’ he said.
Madhav Reddy alleged that Charu Sinha used to give “illegal instructions’’ to him which he was unwilling to follow.
He alleged that Charu Sinha tried to transfer him thrice and finally, succeeded in placing him under suspension.
Madhav Reddy had even filed a defamation case against Sinha.
“Later, I reported to the DGP on November 7, 2007. Since then, I haven’t been given any posting nor have I been paid my salary. My promotion as Additional SP is also stopped,’’ Madhav Reddy told Express. He said the DGP was “angry’’ at him for filing a defamation case against the then SP.
Surprisingly, when Express contacted senior police officials to know the nature of allegations against Reddy, all refused comment. However, one IPS officer said there were no corruption charges against him.
In fact, an enquiry ordered against the DSP is still pending. IGP (Hyderabad region) Vinay Ranjan Ray is conducting the enquiry.
“There is no allegation of misappropriation against Madhav Reddy. Neither is there any enquiry by the Anti-Corruption of Bureau. The enquiry is only to probe his alleged insubordination,’’ sources said.
Madhav Reddy, who had worked in the anti-Naxal force, Greyhounds, was later posted as SDPO Mahabubnagar.
“In February this year, I approached the AP Administrative Tribunal (for not being given posting or salary for 20 months) and the Tribunal too gave their verdict in my favour directing all those concerned to immediately give me a posting. Five months have passed by but my condition remains the same,’’ Reddy said.
APSHRC Chairman B Subhashan Reddy said he had called for a report from the DGP himself by July 13. Asked whether the Commission has the powers to take action against the DGP, Subhashan Reddy refused comment.
HYDERABAD: In a first-of-its kind case in the history of the Andhra Pradesh Police, a DSP rank officer lodged a complaint with the AP State Human Rights Commission (APSHRC) against Director General of Police SSP Yadav and former Mahabubnagar district SP Charu Sinha alleging that he was being harassed for the last 20 months without any posting and salary.
APSHRC Chairman B Subhashan Reddy directed the DGP to submit a report by July 13. Interestingly, Charu Sinha, who was appointed East Godavari SP by the Election Commission in the run-up to the recent elections, is herself without a posting after the government transferred her.
In his petition, DSP M Madhav Reddy, whose last posting was as SDPO, Mahabubnagar district, stated that he had been without posting and salary since November 2007.
“I am not provided with the official vehicle and staff. Moreover, my promotion as Additional SP has also been put on hold,’’ he said.
Madhav Reddy alleged that Charu Sinha used to give “illegal instructions’’ to him which he was unwilling to follow.
He alleged that Charu Sinha tried to transfer him thrice and finally, succeeded in placing him under suspension.
Madhav Reddy had even filed a defamation case against Sinha.
“Later, I reported to the DGP on November 7, 2007. Since then, I haven’t been given any posting nor have I been paid my salary. My promotion as Additional SP is also stopped,’’ Madhav Reddy told Express. He said the DGP was “angry’’ at him for filing a defamation case against the then SP.
Surprisingly, when Express contacted senior police officials to know the nature of allegations against Reddy, all refused comment. However, one IPS officer said there were no corruption charges against him.
In fact, an enquiry ordered against the DSP is still pending. IGP (Hyderabad region) Vinay Ranjan Ray is conducting the enquiry.
“There is no allegation of misappropriation against Madhav Reddy. Neither is there any enquiry by the Anti-Corruption of Bureau. The enquiry is only to probe his alleged insubordination,’’ sources said.
Madhav Reddy, who had worked in the anti-Naxal force, Greyhounds, was later posted as SDPO Mahabubnagar.
“In February this year, I approached the AP Administrative Tribunal (for not being given posting or salary for 20 months) and the Tribunal too gave their verdict in my favour directing all those concerned to immediately give me a posting. Five months have passed by but my condition remains the same,’’ Reddy said.
APSHRC Chairman B Subhashan Reddy said he had called for a report from the DGP himself by July 13. Asked whether the Commission has the powers to take action against the DGP, Subhashan Reddy refused comment.
Chidambaram for negotiations with Maoist guerrillas
July 7th, 2009 -
New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) Chief ministers of states affected by Maoist violence should renew efforts at negotiating with the extremist leaders, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said in the Lok Sabha Tuesday.
Replying to Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav’s demand that the government should hold discussions with Maoist leaders instead of countering them with weapons, Chidambaram said: “Chief ministers should renew their appeal for talks with Naxalites.”
He also urged Maoist leaders to respond to such calls by the chief ministers.
The home minister said during question hour that the government would hold a closed-door meeting with the chief ministers to discuss the issue of Naxalism after the parliament session.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav said the government could not eliminate Maoist guerrillas by killing people as it was the struggle between the “haves and have nots”.
Chidambaram said he did not speak of killing them or eliminating them.
“The original founder leaders of Naxal movement may be ideologically motivated. But today they are not. The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) has clearly drawn a road map of armed struggle to capture power at the centre,” the minister said.
Chidambaram said the rebels were against development. “We build the road, they mine the road.”
“Today Naxalism is well coordinated under the CPI-Maoist,” the minister added.
He said weapons were being smuggled across the border. “There is no concrete evidence of any foreign country’s involvement in funding naxalite activities. Naxalites are able to collect money from within the country,” Chidambaram said.
New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) Chief ministers of states affected by Maoist violence should renew efforts at negotiating with the extremist leaders, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said in the Lok Sabha Tuesday.
Replying to Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav’s demand that the government should hold discussions with Maoist leaders instead of countering them with weapons, Chidambaram said: “Chief ministers should renew their appeal for talks with Naxalites.”
He also urged Maoist leaders to respond to such calls by the chief ministers.
The home minister said during question hour that the government would hold a closed-door meeting with the chief ministers to discuss the issue of Naxalism after the parliament session.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav said the government could not eliminate Maoist guerrillas by killing people as it was the struggle between the “haves and have nots”.
Chidambaram said he did not speak of killing them or eliminating them.
“The original founder leaders of Naxal movement may be ideologically motivated. But today they are not. The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) has clearly drawn a road map of armed struggle to capture power at the centre,” the minister said.
Chidambaram said the rebels were against development. “We build the road, they mine the road.”
“Today Naxalism is well coordinated under the CPI-Maoist,” the minister added.
He said weapons were being smuggled across the border. “There is no concrete evidence of any foreign country’s involvement in funding naxalite activities. Naxalites are able to collect money from within the country,” Chidambaram said.
'Naxals carried out 1,128 raids, killed 455'
The country has witnessed a total of 1,128 incidents of naxal violence till June 30 this year which left 455 civilians and security forces dead.
In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of state for Home Ajay Maken said there has been an increased level of naxal violence in various states of the country.
"There has been increased level of naxal violence especially in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, Maharashtra and West Bengal," Maken said.
He said a total of 107 naxalites were killed and 861 naxals were arrested during the same period. Replying to a question if the Centre has urged States to deploy their own security forces to control violence in various parts of the country including Lalgarh in West Bengal, Maken said concerned states take appropriate action to deal with left wing extremism issues in the state.
He said the Centre supplements their efforts in several way and listed deployment of Central Paramilitary Forces, CoBRA battalion, setting of Counter insurgency and Anti Terrorism schools, modernisation and upgradation of state police and intelligence sharing among others.
Maken also listed reimbursement of security-related expenditure, filling up of critical infrastructure gaps under the scheme of Special Infrastructure in Left wing extremism affected states, assistance in community policing and civil actions besides other steps as assistance being provided to states.
He also said the internal security situation in the country remains largely under control. "No major terrorist incident has been reported in the hinterland during the current year. Similarly, no major communal incident has been reported in the current year. In overall terms, the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir has shown perceptible improvement. The security situation in Assam, Manipur an Nagaland continues to be a matter of concern whereas, Sikkim and Mizoram have remained peaceful. The situation in Tripura has improved significantly over the years. Barring sporadic violence in Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, the situation has remained peaceful," he said.
He also said "the National Investigation Agency has been constituted under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 to investigate and prosecute offences under the Acts mentioned in the schedule, which, inter-alia, includes the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, as amended in 2008".
In a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of state for Home Ajay Maken said there has been an increased level of naxal violence in various states of the country.
"There has been increased level of naxal violence especially in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, Maharashtra and West Bengal," Maken said.
He said a total of 107 naxalites were killed and 861 naxals were arrested during the same period. Replying to a question if the Centre has urged States to deploy their own security forces to control violence in various parts of the country including Lalgarh in West Bengal, Maken said concerned states take appropriate action to deal with left wing extremism issues in the state.
He said the Centre supplements their efforts in several way and listed deployment of Central Paramilitary Forces, CoBRA battalion, setting of Counter insurgency and Anti Terrorism schools, modernisation and upgradation of state police and intelligence sharing among others.
Maken also listed reimbursement of security-related expenditure, filling up of critical infrastructure gaps under the scheme of Special Infrastructure in Left wing extremism affected states, assistance in community policing and civil actions besides other steps as assistance being provided to states.
He also said the internal security situation in the country remains largely under control. "No major terrorist incident has been reported in the hinterland during the current year. Similarly, no major communal incident has been reported in the current year. In overall terms, the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir has shown perceptible improvement. The security situation in Assam, Manipur an Nagaland continues to be a matter of concern whereas, Sikkim and Mizoram have remained peaceful. The situation in Tripura has improved significantly over the years. Barring sporadic violence in Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, the situation has remained peaceful," he said.
He also said "the National Investigation Agency has been constituted under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 to investigate and prosecute offences under the Acts mentioned in the schedule, which, inter-alia, includes the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, as amended in 2008".
Naxal-hit states Chief Ministers to meet in August
From ANI
New Delhi, July 7: Home Minister P Chidambaram today said the meeting of Chief Ministers of Naxal-hit states will be held in August to discuss the menace which has increasing in some states.
Replying to supplementaries in the Lok Sabha, Chidambaram said the meeting will discuss the strategy to tackle the threat posed by the Naxals in some states.
He also asked the Chief Ministers of the affected states to renew their appeal to the Naxal leaders to lay down arms and come to the negotiation.
The appeal came at the suggestion of Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, who claimed that he had successfully resolved the problem in some districts in Uttar Pradesh through talks.
Nepal Parliament resumes, paves way for new budget session|World[Kathmandu {Kathmandu, July 7: After months of obstruction, Nepal Parliament has resumed on Monday.
The session was prorogued after the Unified CPN (Maoist), obstructed normal proceedings of the House for more than two months it has now allowed the resumption of the House following a four-point agreement among the three largest parties in the Constituent Assembly (CA).
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Maoist chairman Prachanda addressed the resumed session.
Prachanda said his party adopted maximum flexibility to allow the House work for the welfare of the country and that the obstruction of the House would resume after a month if the agreements are not fulfilled by then.
The parties have agreed to categorically define Prime Minister's and President's jurisdiction and forge a consensus among the parties about the same within a month.
Prime Minister Nepal vowed to address the issue of defining powers of the President and Prime Minister within a month in consultation with other parties.
Addressing the Maoist demand of maintaining civil supremacy, Nepal said nobody is in favour of military supremacy. The very idea of republican set up is to maintain civil supremacy.
In his address, Prachanda said his party has agreed to end the disruption of the House to speed up the process of concluding the peace process and drafting of the new Constitution.
Prachanda however warned that his party would launch an aggressive agitation if the government failed to reach an understanding to resolve the issue of Army Chief issue.
The resumption of the normal functioning of parliament will pave the way for the President Dr. Ram Bran Yadav to allow the presentation of the new budget before the current fiscal year ends on 15th of this month.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Surendra Pande has said that the preparations for the next fiscal year's budget is almost over.
The size of the next budget is likely to be about Rs 280 billion," he said, nepalnews reported.
Copyright Asian News International/DailyIndia.com
New Delhi, July 7: Home Minister P Chidambaram today said the meeting of Chief Ministers of Naxal-hit states will be held in August to discuss the menace which has increasing in some states.
Replying to supplementaries in the Lok Sabha, Chidambaram said the meeting will discuss the strategy to tackle the threat posed by the Naxals in some states.
He also asked the Chief Ministers of the affected states to renew their appeal to the Naxal leaders to lay down arms and come to the negotiation.
The appeal came at the suggestion of Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, who claimed that he had successfully resolved the problem in some districts in Uttar Pradesh through talks.
Nepal Parliament resumes, paves way for new budget session|World[Kathmandu {Kathmandu, July 7: After months of obstruction, Nepal Parliament has resumed on Monday.
The session was prorogued after the Unified CPN (Maoist), obstructed normal proceedings of the House for more than two months it has now allowed the resumption of the House following a four-point agreement among the three largest parties in the Constituent Assembly (CA).
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and Maoist chairman Prachanda addressed the resumed session.
Prachanda said his party adopted maximum flexibility to allow the House work for the welfare of the country and that the obstruction of the House would resume after a month if the agreements are not fulfilled by then.
The parties have agreed to categorically define Prime Minister's and President's jurisdiction and forge a consensus among the parties about the same within a month.
Prime Minister Nepal vowed to address the issue of defining powers of the President and Prime Minister within a month in consultation with other parties.
Addressing the Maoist demand of maintaining civil supremacy, Nepal said nobody is in favour of military supremacy. The very idea of republican set up is to maintain civil supremacy.
In his address, Prachanda said his party has agreed to end the disruption of the House to speed up the process of concluding the peace process and drafting of the new Constitution.
Prachanda however warned that his party would launch an aggressive agitation if the government failed to reach an understanding to resolve the issue of Army Chief issue.
The resumption of the normal functioning of parliament will pave the way for the President Dr. Ram Bran Yadav to allow the presentation of the new budget before the current fiscal year ends on 15th of this month.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Surendra Pande has said that the preparations for the next fiscal year's budget is almost over.
The size of the next budget is likely to be about Rs 280 billion," he said, nepalnews reported.
Copyright Asian News International/DailyIndia.com
Naxal nabbed in Sambalpur
Express News Service First Published : 07 Jul 2009 05:02:00 AM ISTLast Updated :
SAMBALPUR: In a major breakthrough, Sambalpur police nabbed a hardcore Naxal, David from Jarang village under Jujumura police limits and seized a licensed 12 bore rifle. The rifle is believed to be that of the sarpanch of Tampergarh who was brutally hacked to death by the Naxals in January 2003.
While Sambalpur SP Sanjay Kumar Singh confirmed the arrest he refused to divulge further details. The police are interrogating David and are hopeful of extracting information about the activities of the Naxals and their hide-outs.
Sources said David, is in his mid 20s, worked as conduit and has been crucial in facilitating movement of about 40 to 45 Naxals. The Naxals had arrived in the district on June 10 from Jharkhand en route Nayagarh to join the Ghumsar division of the CPI (Maoist).
They had planned to move into Nayagarh through Sonepur and Boudh by crossing the Mahanadi. However, the smooth passage was foiled after two encounters with the Sambalpur police on June 13 and June 15.
During the encounter on June 15 at Gariakhaman village, Sub-Inspector Narsingh Mahakud was killed after a Naxal bullet hit his temple. Though 25 Naxals are believed to have left for Nayagarh after the June 15 encounter, another 16 are reportedly holed up in the forests of Sambalpur district. The arrest of David is likely to help Sambalpur police nab those who stayed behind in the district.
SAMBALPUR: In a major breakthrough, Sambalpur police nabbed a hardcore Naxal, David from Jarang village under Jujumura police limits and seized a licensed 12 bore rifle. The rifle is believed to be that of the sarpanch of Tampergarh who was brutally hacked to death by the Naxals in January 2003.
While Sambalpur SP Sanjay Kumar Singh confirmed the arrest he refused to divulge further details. The police are interrogating David and are hopeful of extracting information about the activities of the Naxals and their hide-outs.
Sources said David, is in his mid 20s, worked as conduit and has been crucial in facilitating movement of about 40 to 45 Naxals. The Naxals had arrived in the district on June 10 from Jharkhand en route Nayagarh to join the Ghumsar division of the CPI (Maoist).
They had planned to move into Nayagarh through Sonepur and Boudh by crossing the Mahanadi. However, the smooth passage was foiled after two encounters with the Sambalpur police on June 13 and June 15.
During the encounter on June 15 at Gariakhaman village, Sub-Inspector Narsingh Mahakud was killed after a Naxal bullet hit his temple. Though 25 Naxals are believed to have left for Nayagarh after the June 15 encounter, another 16 are reportedly holed up in the forests of Sambalpur district. The arrest of David is likely to help Sambalpur police nab those who stayed behind in the district.
Monday, July 06, 2009
State wants CRPF vigil till peace returns
;Sabyasachi Roy
LALGARH, 5 JULY: The Central Reserve Police Forces, conducting an operation to flush out Maoists from Lalgarh along with the state police, will be asked to stay till normalcy is restored in the area, said home secretary Mr Ardhendhu Sen here today.
Mr Sen visited Lalgarh this morning on the 18th day of the operation to assess the functioning of the administration in Lalgarh area after it was reclaimed from Maoists.
“We want the Central forces to be here till the end of this month. If the Centre agrees to it, they will stay till normalcy is restored in entire Lalgarh," said the home secretary.
He added that altogether 43 companies of Central and state police forces are engaged in the operation. The strength of the joint forces is sufficient and no additional force is required to complete the operation, said Mr Sen. He also pointed out that assistance of National Security Guard (NSG) was not sought to help joint forces in the operation.
Before leaving Lalgarh, he held a meeting with senior officials of the state government who are here to chalk out development projects and the block development officer of Binpur-I block.
Later, the state chief secretary held an hour-long meeting with Mr NS Nigam, district magistrate, Mr Manoj Verma, Superintendent of Police, Mr Praveen Kumar, DIG (Midnapore Range), Mr Kuldip Singh, IG (Western Range), Mr Raj Konojia IGP (law and order) and Mr Hari Ramalu, Commissioner (Burdwan Division) at the Midnapore West circuit house.
Mr Sen said as the operation is meaningless without development, the district administration has started distributing BPL cards among the people living below poverty line and all those who were deprived from getting these cards. Some 800 ration cards have already been distributed and they are expecting to cover all needy persons at the earliest.
Several schemes have already been initiated. Drinking water supply system will be introduced in 17 places in Lalgarh. This apart, 160 deep tubewells will be sunk in Binpur-I and Sadar blocks. It is an ongoing process and several other development schemes have been undertaken that will come up soon, added the home secretary.
A senior official of the district administration said they have sought help of the Ramakrishna Mission in implementing development projects in Lalgarh and a meeting was held with representatives of the organisation this morning.
Earlier in the morning, the joint forces started a sensitising operation from Pirakanta to Sejua. The forces, after taking control of Kalaimuri and Madhupur yesterday, have set up their base camp there to launch further operations, said a senior officer.
In Kadashole village the body of an unidentified man was found near the bridge over the Tamalkhal that connects Kadashole with Pingboni this morning. The villagers informed the joint forces at Goaltore police camp of the discovery of the body. The body has been sent to Midnapore Medical College for an autopsy. An investigation has been ordered into the incident.
Meanwhile, taking cognizance of demands from the state unit of the Congress party and its ally, the Trinamul Congress, the Central government has sought reports from Intelligence agencies as well as from the West Bengal government on the situation in Keshpur in Midnapore district and Mangalkot in Burdwan district.
LALGARH, 5 JULY: The Central Reserve Police Forces, conducting an operation to flush out Maoists from Lalgarh along with the state police, will be asked to stay till normalcy is restored in the area, said home secretary Mr Ardhendhu Sen here today.
Mr Sen visited Lalgarh this morning on the 18th day of the operation to assess the functioning of the administration in Lalgarh area after it was reclaimed from Maoists.
“We want the Central forces to be here till the end of this month. If the Centre agrees to it, they will stay till normalcy is restored in entire Lalgarh," said the home secretary.
He added that altogether 43 companies of Central and state police forces are engaged in the operation. The strength of the joint forces is sufficient and no additional force is required to complete the operation, said Mr Sen. He also pointed out that assistance of National Security Guard (NSG) was not sought to help joint forces in the operation.
Before leaving Lalgarh, he held a meeting with senior officials of the state government who are here to chalk out development projects and the block development officer of Binpur-I block.
Later, the state chief secretary held an hour-long meeting with Mr NS Nigam, district magistrate, Mr Manoj Verma, Superintendent of Police, Mr Praveen Kumar, DIG (Midnapore Range), Mr Kuldip Singh, IG (Western Range), Mr Raj Konojia IGP (law and order) and Mr Hari Ramalu, Commissioner (Burdwan Division) at the Midnapore West circuit house.
Mr Sen said as the operation is meaningless without development, the district administration has started distributing BPL cards among the people living below poverty line and all those who were deprived from getting these cards. Some 800 ration cards have already been distributed and they are expecting to cover all needy persons at the earliest.
Several schemes have already been initiated. Drinking water supply system will be introduced in 17 places in Lalgarh. This apart, 160 deep tubewells will be sunk in Binpur-I and Sadar blocks. It is an ongoing process and several other development schemes have been undertaken that will come up soon, added the home secretary.
A senior official of the district administration said they have sought help of the Ramakrishna Mission in implementing development projects in Lalgarh and a meeting was held with representatives of the organisation this morning.
Earlier in the morning, the joint forces started a sensitising operation from Pirakanta to Sejua. The forces, after taking control of Kalaimuri and Madhupur yesterday, have set up their base camp there to launch further operations, said a senior officer.
In Kadashole village the body of an unidentified man was found near the bridge over the Tamalkhal that connects Kadashole with Pingboni this morning. The villagers informed the joint forces at Goaltore police camp of the discovery of the body. The body has been sent to Midnapore Medical College for an autopsy. An investigation has been ordered into the incident.
Meanwhile, taking cognizance of demands from the state unit of the Congress party and its ally, the Trinamul Congress, the Central government has sought reports from Intelligence agencies as well as from the West Bengal government on the situation in Keshpur in Midnapore district and Mangalkot in Burdwan district.
Tips to tackle rebel mine trap
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Jamshedpur, July 5: The men in uniform will learn by heart lessons in road safety, albeit of a different kind.
The state home department has decided to launch special “sensitisation” programmes from next week to arm policemen — from constables to senior officers — with foolproof tactics on how to dodge rebel-planted landmines on unmetalled roads.
Serpentine mud tracks vanishing into the deep woods of Singhbhum-Kolhan region, bordering the guerrilla dens of Bengal and Orissa, are virtual nightmares for policemen on patrol duty in the rebel stronghold. While an allegedly laggard road construction department is yet to convert the dirt tracks into metalled roads, the policemen continue to be sitting ducks for mine-armed Maoists.
Over 70 policemen have been killed in landmine blasts in the twin districts of Singhbhum under Kolhan police range since 2002. To ensure that the men who put their lives at risk for others are equipped with prudence to save themselves, superintendents of police and their deputies will conduct workshops at district headquarters to tip policemen on which roads to avoid and how to detect landmines and defuse them.
DIG, Kolhan, M.K. Mishra said though similar programmes had been held earlier, this was the first time that even constables would participate. Moreover, the drive would be on a larger scale than ever before, he added.
Mishra pointed out that chances of a landmine blast could be minimised if mud tracks in strategically important areas were converted into metalled roads. “We sent a number of proposals, but there hasn’t been any progress.”
He said the police were even ready to extend “full support” to any agency or contractor to get the work done, but “despite so much initiative and interest” there was “no positive sign” from the road construction department.
The DIG refused to reveal the areas where work was stuck in a limbo, but made it clear that the police department was paying a heavy price for “such bottlenecks”.
Secretary of road construction department N.N. Sinha said most roads under the PWD were metalled. Those that are not are under the Rural Engineering Organisation (REO). “Construction work by the REO is done under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Projects under this central scheme gets delayed due to want of approval on time.”
Jamshedpur, July 5: The men in uniform will learn by heart lessons in road safety, albeit of a different kind.
The state home department has decided to launch special “sensitisation” programmes from next week to arm policemen — from constables to senior officers — with foolproof tactics on how to dodge rebel-planted landmines on unmetalled roads.
Serpentine mud tracks vanishing into the deep woods of Singhbhum-Kolhan region, bordering the guerrilla dens of Bengal and Orissa, are virtual nightmares for policemen on patrol duty in the rebel stronghold. While an allegedly laggard road construction department is yet to convert the dirt tracks into metalled roads, the policemen continue to be sitting ducks for mine-armed Maoists.
Over 70 policemen have been killed in landmine blasts in the twin districts of Singhbhum under Kolhan police range since 2002. To ensure that the men who put their lives at risk for others are equipped with prudence to save themselves, superintendents of police and their deputies will conduct workshops at district headquarters to tip policemen on which roads to avoid and how to detect landmines and defuse them.
DIG, Kolhan, M.K. Mishra said though similar programmes had been held earlier, this was the first time that even constables would participate. Moreover, the drive would be on a larger scale than ever before, he added.
Mishra pointed out that chances of a landmine blast could be minimised if mud tracks in strategically important areas were converted into metalled roads. “We sent a number of proposals, but there hasn’t been any progress.”
He said the police were even ready to extend “full support” to any agency or contractor to get the work done, but “despite so much initiative and interest” there was “no positive sign” from the road construction department.
The DIG refused to reveal the areas where work was stuck in a limbo, but made it clear that the police department was paying a heavy price for “such bottlenecks”.
Secretary of road construction department N.N. Sinha said most roads under the PWD were metalled. Those that are not are under the Rural Engineering Organisation (REO). “Construction work by the REO is done under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Projects under this central scheme gets delayed due to want of approval on time.”
Govt accepts tribal truths: Armed action futile without road, water
Admitting that little development has been undertaken so far in tribal areas of Bengal, state Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen said without development, the police operations in Lalgarh are meaningless.
He visited Lalgarh and adjoining areas on Sunday to oversee development work and the police operations.
Sen arrived at 10 am, held meetings at Lalgarh police station, Binpur BDO office and later at the circuit house in Midnapore town.
“The operation will continue in Lalgrah, but without development this will not be successful. Lalgarh is far safer than before but it will take some time before normalcy returns,” he said outside the Lalgarh police station after holding a meeting with the district administration and top police officers.
The Central forces will stay in Lalgarh and participate in the ongoing operation this month, but the state government is considering extending their stay, he added. At present, 17 companies of Central forces and 26 companies from state are stationed in Lalgrah and adjoining areas.
“We have information that tribal leader Chattradhar Mahato is in the area and we have asked the police to arrest him,” he added.
Later, at the circuit house in Midnapore town, he told mediapersons: “Development is our priority. We are providing ration cards, drinking water, opening up schools and developing healthcare infrastructure on an emergency basis. We are stressing on income generation schemes for people in the area including work for 100 days.”
A number of schemes have been sanctioned for Lalgarh, Belpahari and Binpur areas. Later, Jhargram and other tribal-dominated areas in Purulia and Bankura will be developed, Sen added.
The state government has stepped up efforts to provide ration cards to villagers of Lalgarh, cutting down the processing time from a month to three days. Three drinking water projects have been initiated by the state government in Lalgarh. The administration is also opening up schools and shifting the camps of security forces.
The police, meanwhile, combed various areas of Lalgarh to flush out Maoist squads on Sunday.
“Our operation will continue as Maoists are still active in villages and forests,” said DIG, Midnapore Range, Praveen Kumar.
The security forces also found the body of an unidentified person in Sankhabhanga village in Goaltore.
The body has been sent for the postmortem.
At the Writers’ Buildings, Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakrabarti said the first batch of six officers sent to Lalgarh will return on Sunday and the next team will visit the area tomorrow.
He visited Lalgarh and adjoining areas on Sunday to oversee development work and the police operations.
Sen arrived at 10 am, held meetings at Lalgarh police station, Binpur BDO office and later at the circuit house in Midnapore town.
“The operation will continue in Lalgrah, but without development this will not be successful. Lalgarh is far safer than before but it will take some time before normalcy returns,” he said outside the Lalgarh police station after holding a meeting with the district administration and top police officers.
The Central forces will stay in Lalgarh and participate in the ongoing operation this month, but the state government is considering extending their stay, he added. At present, 17 companies of Central forces and 26 companies from state are stationed in Lalgrah and adjoining areas.
“We have information that tribal leader Chattradhar Mahato is in the area and we have asked the police to arrest him,” he added.
Later, at the circuit house in Midnapore town, he told mediapersons: “Development is our priority. We are providing ration cards, drinking water, opening up schools and developing healthcare infrastructure on an emergency basis. We are stressing on income generation schemes for people in the area including work for 100 days.”
A number of schemes have been sanctioned for Lalgarh, Belpahari and Binpur areas. Later, Jhargram and other tribal-dominated areas in Purulia and Bankura will be developed, Sen added.
The state government has stepped up efforts to provide ration cards to villagers of Lalgarh, cutting down the processing time from a month to three days. Three drinking water projects have been initiated by the state government in Lalgarh. The administration is also opening up schools and shifting the camps of security forces.
The police, meanwhile, combed various areas of Lalgarh to flush out Maoist squads on Sunday.
“Our operation will continue as Maoists are still active in villages and forests,” said DIG, Midnapore Range, Praveen Kumar.
The security forces also found the body of an unidentified person in Sankhabhanga village in Goaltore.
The body has been sent for the postmortem.
At the Writers’ Buildings, Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakrabarti said the first batch of six officers sent to Lalgarh will return on Sunday and the next team will visit the area tomorrow.
Maoists proving Frankenstein to Left parties: VHP
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) demanded the Central Government to expose the hands of left parties behind the Maoist conspiracy in Lalgarh if it really wishes to eliminate Maoist menace from the country. In a press statement issued in New Delhi on June 25, VHP spokesperson Dr Surendra Jain said the way the then ruling party created and promoted Bhindrawale in Punjab for political gains, the left parties promoted Maoists in the country. He said the Maoists who have now developed their network in almost half of the country received ideological and financial support from the left parties. In the beginning the Maoists make the land fertile through terror then the left parties cash it for political gains. This is the clear nexus. That is why the left parties are today opposing the ban imposed on the CPI (Maoists) by the Central Government. It is because of this opposition to the ban that the West Bengal government is just doing eyewash in the name of taking action against the Maoists. It is nothing but double standard of the left parties that they oppose the ban on Maoists even at the time when they have challenged them in their own fort, he said.
(FOC)
(FOC)
Lalgarh operation will continue, says West Bengal
Special Correspondent
On the offensive: Joint forces take position during an operation against naxals near Lalgarh in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district on Saturday.
Kolkata: The operation by security forces to flush out Maoists and activists of the Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee (PSBJC) from Lalgarh and its adjoining areas in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district entered the 18th day on Sunday.
The State government wants the Central forces assisting in the operation to remain stationed in the area till the end of the month. A request has been made to the Centre in this regard.
“The operation will continue till normality returns. We want the Central forces to be here till July-end. If the government [the Centre] agrees, then they [the forces] stay,” State’s Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen told reporters at Lalgarh.
Mr. Sen held talks with State and police officials as well as those of the local administration in Lalgarh and Midnapore. Also discussed were steps to take forward the development process that had ground to a halt for the past eight months in the Lalgarh area in the wake of the PSBJC’s agitation.
Short-term and long-term strategies would be drawn up on the basis of reports to be made by State officials visiting the Lalgarh area for initiating development process in the region, State’s Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty said here.
Mr. Sen said fresh initiatives for development would not just remain confined to Lalgarh and other areas in Paschim Medinipur. They would be taken up in the entire tribal belt of the region that includes parts of Purulia and Bankura districts. Besides drawing up development schemes, vacancies at the local level in the departments concerned would be filled up for the proper execution of development plans.
He said Maoists were still present in certain areas in the region from where they had fired at security forces even on Saturday.
The body of a man was found in the Goaltore area near Lalgarh. The police are investigating.
On the question of arresting PSBJC convener Chhatradhar Mahato, Mr. Sen said he was still in the area and would be arrested soon.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mahato told a local television channel that he had worked for the Trinamool Congress during the panchayat polls in May 2008. He said he was an election agent of a party candidate and was in charge of three booths. He also pointed out that Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee had earlier this year ensured all support to the PSBJC’s agitation there
On the offensive: Joint forces take position during an operation against naxals near Lalgarh in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district on Saturday.
Kolkata: The operation by security forces to flush out Maoists and activists of the Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee (PSBJC) from Lalgarh and its adjoining areas in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district entered the 18th day on Sunday.
The State government wants the Central forces assisting in the operation to remain stationed in the area till the end of the month. A request has been made to the Centre in this regard.
“The operation will continue till normality returns. We want the Central forces to be here till July-end. If the government [the Centre] agrees, then they [the forces] stay,” State’s Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen told reporters at Lalgarh.
Mr. Sen held talks with State and police officials as well as those of the local administration in Lalgarh and Midnapore. Also discussed were steps to take forward the development process that had ground to a halt for the past eight months in the Lalgarh area in the wake of the PSBJC’s agitation.
Short-term and long-term strategies would be drawn up on the basis of reports to be made by State officials visiting the Lalgarh area for initiating development process in the region, State’s Chief Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakraborty said here.
Mr. Sen said fresh initiatives for development would not just remain confined to Lalgarh and other areas in Paschim Medinipur. They would be taken up in the entire tribal belt of the region that includes parts of Purulia and Bankura districts. Besides drawing up development schemes, vacancies at the local level in the departments concerned would be filled up for the proper execution of development plans.
He said Maoists were still present in certain areas in the region from where they had fired at security forces even on Saturday.
The body of a man was found in the Goaltore area near Lalgarh. The police are investigating.
On the question of arresting PSBJC convener Chhatradhar Mahato, Mr. Sen said he was still in the area and would be arrested soon.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mahato told a local television channel that he had worked for the Trinamool Congress during the panchayat polls in May 2008. He said he was an election agent of a party candidate and was in charge of three booths. He also pointed out that Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee had earlier this year ensured all support to the PSBJC’s agitation there
2 Maoists nabbed, admit role in STR rampage
Express News Service First Published : 06 Jul 2009 11:17:45 AM ISTLast Updated :
BARIPADA: Two hardcore Maoists - Mata Tiriya (55) and Abhiram Adeya (45) - were arrested today from Lembugoda, an interior village in Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), police sources said.
They confessed to their involvement in the red rampages at Chahala, Upper-Barha-Kamuda (UBK), Nawana, Meghasani and other places. They further said they had looted cash and other valuables from the tourists at Chahala and ransacked the rest houses, range offices and forest beat houses at different places of the STR from March 28 to 31. The arrests were made after a two-day combing operation by a team of 20 DVF (District Voluntary Force) personnel, a team of SOG jawans and another team of 10 armed police officers of Mayurbhanj, sources indicated. The operation was monitored by Mayurbhanj SP Dayal Gangwar through satellite communication devices that connected the SP in his Baripada residence with the combing teams in the field. The DVF in Mayurbhanj has been imparted SOG training to curb Maoist activities. The arrested persons further confessed to joining the Red rebels brought from Keonjhar and Jajpur to carry out raids in STR particularly to foil the reserve officials’ plan to displace them from the ‘Core Area’ of the ‘Critical Tiger Habitat’, sources pointed out.
Their confessional statements have been video-recorded. They were produced before the SDJM, Karanjia, today who remanded them in judicial custody. Later, the duo were lodged in the Karanjia sub-jail. With this, the total number of Maoists arrested in the Similipal reserve went up to seven, police said
BARIPADA: Two hardcore Maoists - Mata Tiriya (55) and Abhiram Adeya (45) - were arrested today from Lembugoda, an interior village in Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), police sources said.
They confessed to their involvement in the red rampages at Chahala, Upper-Barha-Kamuda (UBK), Nawana, Meghasani and other places. They further said they had looted cash and other valuables from the tourists at Chahala and ransacked the rest houses, range offices and forest beat houses at different places of the STR from March 28 to 31. The arrests were made after a two-day combing operation by a team of 20 DVF (District Voluntary Force) personnel, a team of SOG jawans and another team of 10 armed police officers of Mayurbhanj, sources indicated. The operation was monitored by Mayurbhanj SP Dayal Gangwar through satellite communication devices that connected the SP in his Baripada residence with the combing teams in the field. The DVF in Mayurbhanj has been imparted SOG training to curb Maoist activities. The arrested persons further confessed to joining the Red rebels brought from Keonjhar and Jajpur to carry out raids in STR particularly to foil the reserve officials’ plan to displace them from the ‘Core Area’ of the ‘Critical Tiger Habitat’, sources pointed out.
Their confessional statements have been video-recorded. They were produced before the SDJM, Karanjia, today who remanded them in judicial custody. Later, the duo were lodged in the Karanjia sub-jail. With this, the total number of Maoists arrested in the Similipal reserve went up to seven, police said
Detonators-laden van missing in Maoist area
Posted: 9:25p.m IST, July 5, 2009
Raipur, July 5 (IANS) A private van loaded with detonators went missing in Chhattisgarh's restive Maoist stronghold of Bastar region Sunday, police said.
Officials at the police headquarters here said a massive search operation was launched to trace the vehicle, which was reported missing somewhere in the forested area of Bastar district.
'Two vans with about 26,000 detonators were going from state capital Raipur to Kirandul town in Dantewada district's iron ore rich Bailadila area when one of them went missing somewhere in Bastar district. A search drive has been launched to locate the vehicle,' a police official said.
The explosives were meant for a mining firm to blast rocks at Bailadila hills for iron ore excavation.
Raipur, July 5 (IANS) A private van loaded with detonators went missing in Chhattisgarh's restive Maoist stronghold of Bastar region Sunday, police said.
Officials at the police headquarters here said a massive search operation was launched to trace the vehicle, which was reported missing somewhere in the forested area of Bastar district.
'Two vans with about 26,000 detonators were going from state capital Raipur to Kirandul town in Dantewada district's iron ore rich Bailadila area when one of them went missing somewhere in Bastar district. A search drive has been launched to locate the vehicle,' a police official said.
The explosives were meant for a mining firm to blast rocks at Bailadila hills for iron ore excavation.
Naxalites burn buses
Gaya (PTI): Banned CPI (Maoist) ultras, who had hijacked two buses with eight persons yesterday and subsequently released the abducted persons, burnt the buses in Gaya district of Bihar today, ADG (headquarters) Neelmani said.
The Maoists had set the vehicles ablaze in deep Chakrabandha forest under Dumaria police station this morning, Neelmani said in Patna.
The ultras had on Saturday hijacked the two buses with two drivers, two conductors and four cleaners. They were released unharmed, he said.
The abduction took place at Maigra and Phulwaria villages, about 70 km from here. One of the vehicles was on way to Gaya from Dumaria and the other from Gaya to Kothi when they were hijacked, the owner of the vehicle said.
According to the owner, the Maoists had demanded a levy from him for plying the vehicles.
He said the buses were hijacked as he had refused to make the payment.
The Maoists had set the vehicles ablaze in deep Chakrabandha forest under Dumaria police station this morning, Neelmani said in Patna.
The ultras had on Saturday hijacked the two buses with two drivers, two conductors and four cleaners. They were released unharmed, he said.
The abduction took place at Maigra and Phulwaria villages, about 70 km from here. One of the vehicles was on way to Gaya from Dumaria and the other from Gaya to Kothi when they were hijacked, the owner of the vehicle said.
According to the owner, the Maoists had demanded a levy from him for plying the vehicles.
He said the buses were hijacked as he had refused to make the payment.
Night guns for cops
KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, July 5: The state police will soon have, among other things, assault rifles with night vision in its armoury to take on Maoists.
The induction of the sophisticated rifles — a part of the ongoing police mordernisation programme — is bound to increase firepower and accuracy of the police and paramilitary forces engaged in combating the rebels.
S.N. Pradhan, the inspector-general of police (operation), said that the provision of rifles having night-vision device was a long-standing demand of policemen who have to increasingly indulge in encounters with extremists after sunset. “We will now be in a position to penetrate deeper into the red dens and carry on long-range patrolling in forests and difficult terrain even after dusk,” he said.
However, Pradhan declined to go into the details of the assault rifles and night-vision devices and the number of such rifles ordered citing security reasons.
He added that Jharkhand needed extra firepower, as it is landlocked by five states where the Maoists are active. “Jharkhand is a unique state, which shares border with Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh — all having districts dominated by Naxalites. In no other state is the problem so intense.”
In a bid to remove Maoist dominance in Netarhat, Parasnath hills, Palamau and Chatra, the police need a boost to its existing firepower, which can be met only if police personnel have special commando training, sophisticated weapons and other combat gear.
Pradhan said that the state might have to wait a little longer for interstate border operation forces even though an SOS had been sent to the Centre. “The Union government has asked us to wait for some more time. The security forces are currently posted in other states and are combating insurgency activities there,” he said.
Jamshedpur, July 5: The state police will soon have, among other things, assault rifles with night vision in its armoury to take on Maoists.
The induction of the sophisticated rifles — a part of the ongoing police mordernisation programme — is bound to increase firepower and accuracy of the police and paramilitary forces engaged in combating the rebels.
S.N. Pradhan, the inspector-general of police (operation), said that the provision of rifles having night-vision device was a long-standing demand of policemen who have to increasingly indulge in encounters with extremists after sunset. “We will now be in a position to penetrate deeper into the red dens and carry on long-range patrolling in forests and difficult terrain even after dusk,” he said.
However, Pradhan declined to go into the details of the assault rifles and night-vision devices and the number of such rifles ordered citing security reasons.
He added that Jharkhand needed extra firepower, as it is landlocked by five states where the Maoists are active. “Jharkhand is a unique state, which shares border with Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh — all having districts dominated by Naxalites. In no other state is the problem so intense.”
In a bid to remove Maoist dominance in Netarhat, Parasnath hills, Palamau and Chatra, the police need a boost to its existing firepower, which can be met only if police personnel have special commando training, sophisticated weapons and other combat gear.
Pradhan said that the state might have to wait a little longer for interstate border operation forces even though an SOS had been sent to the Centre. “The Union government has asked us to wait for some more time. The security forces are currently posted in other states and are combating insurgency activities there,” he said.
Two state ministers seek security upgrade
6 Jul 2009, 0114 hrs IST, Yogesh Naik, TNN
MUMBAI: Two ministers of state for home have asked for upgradation of security saying there is a threat to their lives.
Minister of state for home (urban) Naseem Khan and minister of state (rural) Nitin Raut had been constantly pressurising home minister Jayant Patil for a security upgrade. Both have demanded that their security be upgraded from Y category to Z category where a host of security measures are provided.
Khan told TOI, "I feel security should be increased. There is a terror threat and also an invisible one from Naxals to my life.''
Raut also maintains that he has taken on Naxalites and hence requires additional security. "Besides, I am fighting casteist forces who have unleashed a reign of terror on the oppressed classes. The upper classes are targeting me. I want my security to be upgraded to Z,'' Raut said. "In a few cases earlier, they had provided ministers of state with protection, so why should we be left out?'' he added.
The city and the state police have not decided on their requests. At present, the file is with home minister Jayant Patil. As a home minister, Patil has Z security.
Former IPS officer Y P Singh said, "Z category security is a status symbol. These ministers of state can show voters and others that they are important people and pose as senior cabinet ministers. It seems that they do not have security concerns. Their security must not be enhanced, especially when the polls are near.''
Police sources said the Congress government had given protection to Kripashankar Singh while he was minister of state for home. This protection continued after he was dropped in 2004. "He continues to have a Gypsy-load of policemen even though there is no threat to him now,'' said a senior police officer.
According to the police, several ministers in the state have police protection even though there is no threat to them. Former deputy chief minister R R Patil came down heavily on this but his proposal to reduce police cover was met with stiff resistance.
A deputy commissioner with the Mumbai police said, "If ministers are not feeling safe, then god save the common people.''
MUMBAI: Two ministers of state for home have asked for upgradation of security saying there is a threat to their lives.
Minister of state for home (urban) Naseem Khan and minister of state (rural) Nitin Raut had been constantly pressurising home minister Jayant Patil for a security upgrade. Both have demanded that their security be upgraded from Y category to Z category where a host of security measures are provided.
Khan told TOI, "I feel security should be increased. There is a terror threat and also an invisible one from Naxals to my life.''
Raut also maintains that he has taken on Naxalites and hence requires additional security. "Besides, I am fighting casteist forces who have unleashed a reign of terror on the oppressed classes. The upper classes are targeting me. I want my security to be upgraded to Z,'' Raut said. "In a few cases earlier, they had provided ministers of state with protection, so why should we be left out?'' he added.
The city and the state police have not decided on their requests. At present, the file is with home minister Jayant Patil. As a home minister, Patil has Z security.
Former IPS officer Y P Singh said, "Z category security is a status symbol. These ministers of state can show voters and others that they are important people and pose as senior cabinet ministers. It seems that they do not have security concerns. Their security must not be enhanced, especially when the polls are near.''
Police sources said the Congress government had given protection to Kripashankar Singh while he was minister of state for home. This protection continued after he was dropped in 2004. "He continues to have a Gypsy-load of policemen even though there is no threat to him now,'' said a senior police officer.
According to the police, several ministers in the state have police protection even though there is no threat to them. Former deputy chief minister R R Patil came down heavily on this but his proposal to reduce police cover was met with stiff resistance.
A deputy commissioner with the Mumbai police said, "If ministers are not feeling safe, then god save the common people.''
Maoists abduct two in Gaya village
6 Jul 2009, 0245 hrs IST, Abdul Qadir, TNN
GAYA: Suspected cadres of the CPI(Maoist) abducted two persons from village Pipra under the Naxal-hit Barachatti police station area of the district
on Sunday.
According to reports reaching the district headquarters, the Naxals suspected the abducted persons to be police informers. The two men allegedly abducted by the Naxals have been identified as Satyendra Yadav and Vijay Yadav, both of them siblings hailing from the nearby Mohanpur police station area of the district. The two brothers were on a visit to their sister's house in village Pipra.
Sherghati deputy SP Ranjan Kumar said he was not in a position either to confirm or deny the alleged abduction. One person is being questioned by the police and only on the basis of information gathered from him, something could be said in the matter, Kumar added
GAYA: Suspected cadres of the CPI(Maoist) abducted two persons from village Pipra under the Naxal-hit Barachatti police station area of the district
on Sunday.
According to reports reaching the district headquarters, the Naxals suspected the abducted persons to be police informers. The two men allegedly abducted by the Naxals have been identified as Satyendra Yadav and Vijay Yadav, both of them siblings hailing from the nearby Mohanpur police station area of the district. The two brothers were on a visit to their sister's house in village Pipra.
Sherghati deputy SP Ranjan Kumar said he was not in a position either to confirm or deny the alleged abduction. One person is being questioned by the police and only on the basis of information gathered from him, something could be said in the matter, Kumar added
Govt approves new recruitment policy for paramilitary forces
New Delhi: Faced with recent scams in the recruitment of constables in paramilitary forces, the government has approved a new hiring scheme which aims at making the process more objective and allows maximum use of technology.
According to the new recruitment policy for the central forces approved by the ministry of home affairs, tainted officers will find no place during the appointments.
“No officer against whom departmental proceedings for major penalty is pending will be associated with the recruitment process. Similarly, an officer against whom charges of bungling in previous recruitment have been proved, will not be associated with it for the next five years,” the new policy says.
No officer belonging to the state in which the recruitment is being done will be a member of any recruitment board for that state. The biometric methods will be used at all stages of recruitment.
The new application forms will now be designed centrally in the Optical Mark Reader (OMR) sheet format so that it can be scrutinised promptly with the help of computers.
The physical efficiency test will be only qualifying in nature and will not carry any marks and the written test will consist of OMR-based objective type multiple-choice questions. The question papers will be set centrally and there will be no interview.
The government has also decided to launch a website along with a helpline and a complaint line, giving telephone numbers and SMS-based assistance.
The new recruitment scheme came in the wake of two subsequent scams related to the appointment of constables in CRPF.
In May, the CBI had arrested 11 people, including a CRPF inspector general, a DIG and two commandants after a country-wide raids in connection with alleged corruption and bungling in the recruitment of anti-naxal force COBRA.
In February, the CBI, in a similar case, had arrested the force’s DIG in Lucknow, a head constable and a tout.
Following these, home minister P Chidambaram had said the process should be “clean” as paramilitary forces will emerge as the largest government recruiter in the next five years.
“I hope this (the alleged scam) is the last and should not be repeated,” he had said in a stern message.
Home ministry officials said the CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB and NSG have been authorised to raise 123 new battalions which would be coming up in the next five years.
Each battalion of the forces will have about 1,100 personnel and thus the total number of youngsters including women to be recruited by them would be over 1.35 lakh.
According to the new recruitment policy for the central forces approved by the ministry of home affairs, tainted officers will find no place during the appointments.
“No officer against whom departmental proceedings for major penalty is pending will be associated with the recruitment process. Similarly, an officer against whom charges of bungling in previous recruitment have been proved, will not be associated with it for the next five years,” the new policy says.
No officer belonging to the state in which the recruitment is being done will be a member of any recruitment board for that state. The biometric methods will be used at all stages of recruitment.
The new application forms will now be designed centrally in the Optical Mark Reader (OMR) sheet format so that it can be scrutinised promptly with the help of computers.
The physical efficiency test will be only qualifying in nature and will not carry any marks and the written test will consist of OMR-based objective type multiple-choice questions. The question papers will be set centrally and there will be no interview.
The government has also decided to launch a website along with a helpline and a complaint line, giving telephone numbers and SMS-based assistance.
The new recruitment scheme came in the wake of two subsequent scams related to the appointment of constables in CRPF.
In May, the CBI had arrested 11 people, including a CRPF inspector general, a DIG and two commandants after a country-wide raids in connection with alleged corruption and bungling in the recruitment of anti-naxal force COBRA.
In February, the CBI, in a similar case, had arrested the force’s DIG in Lucknow, a head constable and a tout.
Following these, home minister P Chidambaram had said the process should be “clean” as paramilitary forces will emerge as the largest government recruiter in the next five years.
“I hope this (the alleged scam) is the last and should not be repeated,” he had said in a stern message.
Home ministry officials said the CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB and NSG have been authorised to raise 123 new battalions which would be coming up in the next five years.
Each battalion of the forces will have about 1,100 personnel and thus the total number of youngsters including women to be recruited by them would be over 1.35 lakh.
Maoists involved in Similipal attack held
PTI Sunday, July 5, 2009 19:07 IST Email
Baripada (Orissa): Two Maoists, allegedly involved in the attack on similipal sanctuary about three months ago, were arrested in Orissa's Mayurbhanj district, police said today. The ultras were nabbed at Lambugada under Jashipur police station by the elite anti-naxal special operation group (sog) of Orissa police yesterday, Superintendent of Police,Mayurbjanj, Dayal Gangwar said.
The duo identified as Mata Tiria (55) and Abhiram Adeya (45) confessed that they were involved in the March 28 violence in the forest range office at Chahala inside the sprawling sanctuary and nine subsequent incidents forcing the government to issue a ban on entry of tourists inside.The Maoists along with local people had vandalised the forest range office at Chahala, forest beat houses at Khejuri and Cherabila besides looting the belongings of the tourists.
They confessed before the police that cadres operating in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Jajpur districts were behind the violence by motivating the tribals inhabiting the sanctuary to take to violence, Gangwar said. Both the red rebels were produced before the court of sub-divisional majistrate at Karanjia which forwarded them jail custody.
Baripada (Orissa): Two Maoists, allegedly involved in the attack on similipal sanctuary about three months ago, were arrested in Orissa's Mayurbhanj district, police said today. The ultras were nabbed at Lambugada under Jashipur police station by the elite anti-naxal special operation group (sog) of Orissa police yesterday, Superintendent of Police,Mayurbjanj, Dayal Gangwar said.
The duo identified as Mata Tiria (55) and Abhiram Adeya (45) confessed that they were involved in the March 28 violence in the forest range office at Chahala inside the sprawling sanctuary and nine subsequent incidents forcing the government to issue a ban on entry of tourists inside.The Maoists along with local people had vandalised the forest range office at Chahala, forest beat houses at Khejuri and Cherabila besides looting the belongings of the tourists.
They confessed before the police that cadres operating in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Jajpur districts were behind the violence by motivating the tribals inhabiting the sanctuary to take to violence, Gangwar said. Both the red rebels were produced before the court of sub-divisional majistrate at Karanjia which forwarded them jail custody.
Maoists abduct two in Gaya village
6 Jul 2009, 0245 hrs IST, Abdul Qadir, TNN
GAYA: Suspected cadres of the CPI(Maoist) abducted two persons from village Pipra under the Naxal-hit Barachatti police station area of the district
on Sunday.
According to reports reaching the district headquarters, the Naxals suspected the abducted persons to be police informers. The two men allegedly abducted by the Naxals have been identified as Satyendra Yadav and Vijay Yadav, both of them siblings hailing from the nearby Mohanpur police station area of the district. The two brothers were on a visit to their sister's house in village Pipra.
Sherghati deputy SP Ranjan Kumar said he was not in a position either to confirm or deny the alleged abduction. One person is being questioned by the police and only on the basis of information gathered from him, something could be said in the matter, Kumar added
GAYA: Suspected cadres of the CPI(Maoist) abducted two persons from village Pipra under the Naxal-hit Barachatti police station area of the district
on Sunday.
According to reports reaching the district headquarters, the Naxals suspected the abducted persons to be police informers. The two men allegedly abducted by the Naxals have been identified as Satyendra Yadav and Vijay Yadav, both of them siblings hailing from the nearby Mohanpur police station area of the district. The two brothers were on a visit to their sister's house in village Pipra.
Sherghati deputy SP Ranjan Kumar said he was not in a position either to confirm or deny the alleged abduction. One person is being questioned by the police and only on the basis of information gathered from him, something could be said in the matter, Kumar added
Sane ways to fight violence and terrorism
By M.V. Kamath
The trouble with our political leaders is that they prefer to remain intellectually lazy. Civic violence in the streets does not move them. This is the tragedy of our country. Over and over again the country has witnessed hundreds of primarily lower middle class citizens letting themselves loose in the streets to fight for some indeterminate cause at great cost not only just to the city administration but to fellow-citizens as well. This should be a matter for all parties across the political spectrum to be concerned with.
Have we become a nation of barbarians? At the slightest pretext people get into the streets in a fighting mood, throw stones at enforcers of law and order, defy the police, torch private vehicles and public transport, compel shops to close down on pain of being looted—and this has now become standard practice in almost every city. Such public behaviour is taken for granted, to be accepted without complaint. One assessment is that the public suffers a loss of several crores of rupees every year, which is never re-imbursed. Life goes on. At a different level, especially in Naxal-infested areas which are primarily tribal, government rule is non-existent. Worse still, Maoist rule prevails and a parallel government holds sway.
In the year 2002, some 55 districts had come under Maoist control. Five years later, the number of districts afflicted by Maoism rose to 125. Of these 25 are in Bihar, 20 in Jharkhand, 19 in Andhra Pradesh, 14 in Orissa, 10 in Chhattisgarh and nine in West Bengal. Six districts were affected each in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh and five in Karnataka. Recent happenings in Lalgarh in West Bengal are symbolic of Maoist ascendance in tribal circles. The West Bengal government has apparently no control over 42 villages in the Lalgarh sub-division spread over about seven–and-a-half square kilometre. In mid-June, such were Maoist ambitions that about 500 Maoists—a hundred of them fully trained in combat and 400 others semi-trained—sneaked into Lalgarh from the Jharkhand neighbourhood. The government had to seek the help of 13 companies of central forces including the elite Cobra Commandoes from Orissa, to clean up Lalgarh of Maoist influence, but not before the Maoists had torched five houses of CPM leaders.
The Maoists attack reminds one of a similar attack organised by them in March 2007 during which an estimated 300 to 400 of them armed with grenades and petrol bombs killed 55 security personnel in a remote camp in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region. Two years earlier, in 2005 as many as 49 members of the security forces were killed (as against 29 in Bihar and 27 in Jharkhand). The killing is endless. The standard excuse is that the state governments are indifferent to the welfare of tribals and that, during the last 32 years the ruling CPM in West Bengal has killed 45,000 tribals in the state. Even if the accusation is factually correct, those killed must have been terrorists under any name and terrorists cannot expect leniency if they have indulged in killing.
The fact is a serious effort had been made as long ago as the commencement of the 5th plan for an integrated development approach in planning for tribals in Blocks with tribal concentration of 50 per cent and more. The idea was to bring the tribals within the framework of an Integrated Tribal Development Agency.
Similarly, micro-projects were formed in isolated projects for development of primitive tribes of whom there are quite a few. The 6th Plan envisaged a further break-through in the field of tribal development. The objectives of the 5th Plan were further revolutionised in favour of critical infrastructure and bringing out 50 per cent of tribal families above poverty line through family-oriented income generating schemes. The Ministry of Agriculture was to serve as a catalyst for stimulating, fostering and promoting the developmental activities in the project areas for tribals only. The problem was whether a policy of isolation or a policy of assimilation should be followed in matters of tribal development but here the issue was apparently shelved. But that does not mean that the governments both at the central and state levels are unaware of their responsibilities.
The trouble is that the Naxal leaders themselves don’t want to see tribals get into the mainstream for then they would become redundant. They would be revealed for what they are: exploiters of tribal people accustomed to exploit tribal ignorance for their personal self-aggrandisement. They deserve, to be exposed. This is a major job confronting our governments, especially considering that, according to the 1991 census, tribals numbered 7.7 per cent in then undivided Bihar, 5.6 per cent in West Bengal, 22.2 per cent in Orissa, 23.3 per cent in Madhya Pradesh, 9.3 per cent in Maharashtra, 14.9 per cent in Gujarat and 6.3 per cent in Andhra Pradesh.
The enemies of tribals are not the police but the Maoists themselves with their antedeluvian ideologies and penchant for killing. Of the two G’s available to tribals—guns and Gandhi—the need Gandhi more, now more than at any other time. As for the increasingly frequent street violence one has been witnessing for years now, an effort, howsoever limited in scope, should be made to carry the message of non-violence to the urban lower middle class.
One way is to declare one day in a year as an Om Shanti Day, when people will be asked at well-organised public meetings to take a pledge that under no circumstances will they resort to street violence. One might as well distribute badges not costing more than a rupee each with a symbol of folded palms on one side and Om Shanti (or its equivalent in Urdu) on the other, which would indicate acceptance of non-violence in the pursuit of justice. But will that stop street violence by itself? May be not. But at least we could start a nation-wide movement to deprecate civil violence which has become the shame of the land.
A thousand mile journey, as a Chinese saying goes, starts with the first step. The trouble with our political leaders is that they prefer to remain intellectually lazy. Civic violence in the streets does not move them. This is the tragedy of our country. Over and over again the country has witnessed hundreds of primarily lower middle class citizens letting themselves loose in the streets to fight for some indeterminate cause at great cost not only just to the city administration but to fellow-citizens as well. This should be a matter for all parties across the political spectrum to be concerned with.
In at least some ways certain parties, as for example in Mumbai, where narrow parochialism holds sway, are no better than Maoists with their narrow vision and hate –filled action plans. Streets are meant for safe transport, not for mindless rioting, a point that needs to be stressed again and again these days when stone-throwing has become an art, whether it is in Mumbai or Srinagar or, yes, in Lalgarh. All political parties must take the issue of ending street fighting on a priority basis. Are we, or are we not, a civilised people?
The trouble with our political leaders is that they prefer to remain intellectually lazy. Civic violence in the streets does not move them. This is the tragedy of our country. Over and over again the country has witnessed hundreds of primarily lower middle class citizens letting themselves loose in the streets to fight for some indeterminate cause at great cost not only just to the city administration but to fellow-citizens as well. This should be a matter for all parties across the political spectrum to be concerned with.
Have we become a nation of barbarians? At the slightest pretext people get into the streets in a fighting mood, throw stones at enforcers of law and order, defy the police, torch private vehicles and public transport, compel shops to close down on pain of being looted—and this has now become standard practice in almost every city. Such public behaviour is taken for granted, to be accepted without complaint. One assessment is that the public suffers a loss of several crores of rupees every year, which is never re-imbursed. Life goes on. At a different level, especially in Naxal-infested areas which are primarily tribal, government rule is non-existent. Worse still, Maoist rule prevails and a parallel government holds sway.
In the year 2002, some 55 districts had come under Maoist control. Five years later, the number of districts afflicted by Maoism rose to 125. Of these 25 are in Bihar, 20 in Jharkhand, 19 in Andhra Pradesh, 14 in Orissa, 10 in Chhattisgarh and nine in West Bengal. Six districts were affected each in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh and five in Karnataka. Recent happenings in Lalgarh in West Bengal are symbolic of Maoist ascendance in tribal circles. The West Bengal government has apparently no control over 42 villages in the Lalgarh sub-division spread over about seven–and-a-half square kilometre. In mid-June, such were Maoist ambitions that about 500 Maoists—a hundred of them fully trained in combat and 400 others semi-trained—sneaked into Lalgarh from the Jharkhand neighbourhood. The government had to seek the help of 13 companies of central forces including the elite Cobra Commandoes from Orissa, to clean up Lalgarh of Maoist influence, but not before the Maoists had torched five houses of CPM leaders.
The Maoists attack reminds one of a similar attack organised by them in March 2007 during which an estimated 300 to 400 of them armed with grenades and petrol bombs killed 55 security personnel in a remote camp in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region. Two years earlier, in 2005 as many as 49 members of the security forces were killed (as against 29 in Bihar and 27 in Jharkhand). The killing is endless. The standard excuse is that the state governments are indifferent to the welfare of tribals and that, during the last 32 years the ruling CPM in West Bengal has killed 45,000 tribals in the state. Even if the accusation is factually correct, those killed must have been terrorists under any name and terrorists cannot expect leniency if they have indulged in killing.
The fact is a serious effort had been made as long ago as the commencement of the 5th plan for an integrated development approach in planning for tribals in Blocks with tribal concentration of 50 per cent and more. The idea was to bring the tribals within the framework of an Integrated Tribal Development Agency.
Similarly, micro-projects were formed in isolated projects for development of primitive tribes of whom there are quite a few. The 6th Plan envisaged a further break-through in the field of tribal development. The objectives of the 5th Plan were further revolutionised in favour of critical infrastructure and bringing out 50 per cent of tribal families above poverty line through family-oriented income generating schemes. The Ministry of Agriculture was to serve as a catalyst for stimulating, fostering and promoting the developmental activities in the project areas for tribals only. The problem was whether a policy of isolation or a policy of assimilation should be followed in matters of tribal development but here the issue was apparently shelved. But that does not mean that the governments both at the central and state levels are unaware of their responsibilities.
The trouble is that the Naxal leaders themselves don’t want to see tribals get into the mainstream for then they would become redundant. They would be revealed for what they are: exploiters of tribal people accustomed to exploit tribal ignorance for their personal self-aggrandisement. They deserve, to be exposed. This is a major job confronting our governments, especially considering that, according to the 1991 census, tribals numbered 7.7 per cent in then undivided Bihar, 5.6 per cent in West Bengal, 22.2 per cent in Orissa, 23.3 per cent in Madhya Pradesh, 9.3 per cent in Maharashtra, 14.9 per cent in Gujarat and 6.3 per cent in Andhra Pradesh.
The enemies of tribals are not the police but the Maoists themselves with their antedeluvian ideologies and penchant for killing. Of the two G’s available to tribals—guns and Gandhi—the need Gandhi more, now more than at any other time. As for the increasingly frequent street violence one has been witnessing for years now, an effort, howsoever limited in scope, should be made to carry the message of non-violence to the urban lower middle class.
One way is to declare one day in a year as an Om Shanti Day, when people will be asked at well-organised public meetings to take a pledge that under no circumstances will they resort to street violence. One might as well distribute badges not costing more than a rupee each with a symbol of folded palms on one side and Om Shanti (or its equivalent in Urdu) on the other, which would indicate acceptance of non-violence in the pursuit of justice. But will that stop street violence by itself? May be not. But at least we could start a nation-wide movement to deprecate civil violence which has become the shame of the land.
A thousand mile journey, as a Chinese saying goes, starts with the first step. The trouble with our political leaders is that they prefer to remain intellectually lazy. Civic violence in the streets does not move them. This is the tragedy of our country. Over and over again the country has witnessed hundreds of primarily lower middle class citizens letting themselves loose in the streets to fight for some indeterminate cause at great cost not only just to the city administration but to fellow-citizens as well. This should be a matter for all parties across the political spectrum to be concerned with.
In at least some ways certain parties, as for example in Mumbai, where narrow parochialism holds sway, are no better than Maoists with their narrow vision and hate –filled action plans. Streets are meant for safe transport, not for mindless rioting, a point that needs to be stressed again and again these days when stone-throwing has become an art, whether it is in Mumbai or Srinagar or, yes, in Lalgarh. All political parties must take the issue of ending street fighting on a priority basis. Are we, or are we not, a civilised people?
Maoists at the receiving end of cops in Garhwa: SP
6 Jul 2009, 0627 hrs IST, Q A Hadi, TNN
GARHWA: Garhwa police have claimed to achieved major success in combating Maoist menace and crime during the last year-and-a-half.
Stating this at a press conference here on Sunday, Garhwa SP Saket Kumar Singh said police have also had success in prosecuting many hardcore Maoists in the district.
Citing examples, Singh said hardcore Maoist Prithvi Dusadh alias Sumanji was awarded life imprisonment in murder case, while Surendra Bhuiyan and Govind Banjari were awarded four-year imprisonment in connection with a police-Maoist encounter.
Similarly, the SP said, Chandrika Paswan who was booked under the Arms Act was awarded four years imprisonment. This besides, the SP said eight accused were awarded life imprisonment in a murder case, while two others __ Dharmendra Singh and Vishnu Yadav __ were each sentenced to two-year imprisonment respectively in separate cases of loot and attempted murder.
Singh said police achieved major success against the Red rebels, particularly, in north Garhwa area. "As a result, there is no any Naxal squad in the area except local committees," he said adding that there are currently only four Maioist squads operating in the entire district under the command of Basant Yadav, Keshwar, Praveen Khes alias Vinay and Suraj Yadav.
Enumerating the achievements of Garhwa police during the last one-and-a- half- years, Singh said Garhwa police arrested three Moaist "zonal commanders", four "sub-zonal commanders" and a BJSAC member.
This apart, five "area commanders" and 81 CPI(Maoist) members were arrested during the period. While 14 hardcore CPI(Maoist) have been gunned down by police in different encounters including 8 at Makhatu village, 3 at Harta-Banalat, 2 at Bahahara and one in Bhandaria.
The police have also recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition during the period which included seven .315 rifles, seven country-made 12 bore guns, three .303 rifles, five pitols, one AK-56 rifle, one carbine and one SLR and over 3000 cartridges. Besides, police recovered five grenades, four can bombs, 19 detonators and 250 kg explosive from the Maoists, besides Rs 12,68,040 levy money collected from contractors and other businessmen.
The district police also busted 6 mini gun factories during the period, the SP said.
"The actions of Garhwa police led to a significant reduction in Maoist activities and other crimes in the district during the past one-and-a-half years," the SP said.
Singh said police also achieved considerable success in regaining people's faith by reaching out to all sections of society and helping the needy and helpless poor through community policing.
GARHWA: Garhwa police have claimed to achieved major success in combating Maoist menace and crime during the last year-and-a-half.
Stating this at a press conference here on Sunday, Garhwa SP Saket Kumar Singh said police have also had success in prosecuting many hardcore Maoists in the district.
Citing examples, Singh said hardcore Maoist Prithvi Dusadh alias Sumanji was awarded life imprisonment in murder case, while Surendra Bhuiyan and Govind Banjari were awarded four-year imprisonment in connection with a police-Maoist encounter.
Similarly, the SP said, Chandrika Paswan who was booked under the Arms Act was awarded four years imprisonment. This besides, the SP said eight accused were awarded life imprisonment in a murder case, while two others __ Dharmendra Singh and Vishnu Yadav __ were each sentenced to two-year imprisonment respectively in separate cases of loot and attempted murder.
Singh said police achieved major success against the Red rebels, particularly, in north Garhwa area. "As a result, there is no any Naxal squad in the area except local committees," he said adding that there are currently only four Maioist squads operating in the entire district under the command of Basant Yadav, Keshwar, Praveen Khes alias Vinay and Suraj Yadav.
Enumerating the achievements of Garhwa police during the last one-and-a- half- years, Singh said Garhwa police arrested three Moaist "zonal commanders", four "sub-zonal commanders" and a BJSAC member.
This apart, five "area commanders" and 81 CPI(Maoist) members were arrested during the period. While 14 hardcore CPI(Maoist) have been gunned down by police in different encounters including 8 at Makhatu village, 3 at Harta-Banalat, 2 at Bahahara and one in Bhandaria.
The police have also recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition during the period which included seven .315 rifles, seven country-made 12 bore guns, three .303 rifles, five pitols, one AK-56 rifle, one carbine and one SLR and over 3000 cartridges. Besides, police recovered five grenades, four can bombs, 19 detonators and 250 kg explosive from the Maoists, besides Rs 12,68,040 levy money collected from contractors and other businessmen.
The district police also busted 6 mini gun factories during the period, the SP said.
"The actions of Garhwa police led to a significant reduction in Maoist activities and other crimes in the district during the past one-and-a-half years," the SP said.
Singh said police also achieved considerable success in regaining people's faith by reaching out to all sections of society and helping the needy and helpless poor through community policing.
Security forces from J&K may be deployed against them, feel Maoists
K. Srinivas Reddy
They are for increasing violence in their ‘strongholds and areas of struggle’
Expand guerilla war to newer areas, Maoist cadre told
“The LTTE had underestimated its enemy”
HYDERABAD: The proposed withdrawal of the paramilitary forces from active duties in Kashmir has forced Maoists to redraft their field tactics as they believe these forces will be deployed for counter-insurgency operations in States that face Left wing extremist problem.
Just a day after Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram announced the plan to withdraw the Central Reserve Police Force from Kashmir, during his visit to the Valley on June 11, the Maoist Polit Bureau (PB) has sent out a circular to its fighters asking them to get prepared for a long-drawn battle apprehending that the CRPF pullout is a precursor to an all-round offensive against Maoists.
Refined strategy
Maoists believe that the Centre’s move to “redraw lines of responsibility” among the Army, the paramilitary forces and the Kashmir police is part of a refined counter-insurgency strategy to be implemented in Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and other Maoist-affected States.
Their analysis is that the Chhattisgarh government will shortly launch a major offensive to take over Abuz Maad in Bastar forests (about 4,000 sq km), dubbed as the Maoist military headquarters. The redeployment of the central forces will lead to a “long-drawn” armed conflict, the Polit Bureau has cautioned.
Sole intention
The Maoist strategy to counter the offensive is to step up violence in its ‘strongholds and areas of struggle’ with the sole intention to “disperse the enemy’s [the State’s] forces over a significantly wide area.”
In the 14-page circular, a copy of which is available with The Hindu, the PB has asked the rebel ranks to “further aggravate the situation and create more difficulties to enemy forces by expanding guerilla war to newer areas,” under what it terms a Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC).
The forthright call to take up TCOC and inflict severe losses to the security forces by “meticulously planning the actions,” has the counter-insurgency specialists worried. They point out that the onset of the rainy season is not the right time to take up anti-naxal operations as most of the forest areas become totally inaccessible.
“… Tactical counter-offensives should be stepped up and also taken up in new areas so as to divert a section of the enemy forces from attacking our guerilla bases …”
This unequivocal assertion, analysts say, is a firm indication that the Maoist-affected States will witness more violence in the coming days. The military superiority of the rebel fighters has been proved by massive strikes against the police in the recent elections in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa and Maharashtra.
The continuous attacks caused the death of 112 police personnel, including paramilitary forces, between April 6 and June 12, the day the PB released the circular.
Taking stock of the political situation in the country, the PB feels that the “relative stability” of the United Progressive Alliance government will lead to a more determined military offensive against the Maoist movement.
Going by the circular, the rebels’ focus will now be on defending their bases and zones in Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand. Their plan, apparently, is to rope in the militant anti-government organisations in the battle to fight the government forces.
Intelligence sources, who monitor the left wing extremist violence, indicate that there indeed is a plan to move at least 10 battalions of the Central Para Military Forces (CPMF) from Kashmir to Chhattisgarh after the troops underwent a month-long training. Kashmir and Chhattisgarh have different battle conditions. The forces have to be trained at least for a month as they move from one theatre of conflict to another, says a senior police officer.
The sources said:
“The pullout will begin from Kashmir, where 58 battalions of the CRPF are deployed. This is the only theatre of conflict where we can divert some forces. The Home Ministry too is of the opinion that the Jammu and Kashmir police should be on the frontline in the maintenance of law and order and not the CPMF.
“The situation in the northeast, the other major theatre of conflict, is becoming volatile again. Hence, troop pullout is not advisable. The third theatre of conflict involving the left wing extremism should receive more focus now.”
At present, 33 battalions of the CPMF are deployed in various States, with Chhattisgarh having 17, followed by Jharkhand 6, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa 4 each, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal one each. Chhattisgarh, the epicentre of the Maoist activity, has been demanding the deployment of at least 55 battalions to take on the naxals.
Fall of LTTE
The PB sounds a note of caution, saying Maoists could learn a lesson or two from the setback the LTTE faced in the hands of Sri Lankan defence forces. It feels that the LTTE “failed to study the changes in enemy tactics, capabilities, international support” and this underestimation of enemy, coupled with overestimation of its strength, led to its defeat. “The LTTE’s fall will have a negative effect on revolutionary movement in India as well as South Asia too,” the PB notes.
They are for increasing violence in their ‘strongholds and areas of struggle’
Expand guerilla war to newer areas, Maoist cadre told
“The LTTE had underestimated its enemy”
HYDERABAD: The proposed withdrawal of the paramilitary forces from active duties in Kashmir has forced Maoists to redraft their field tactics as they believe these forces will be deployed for counter-insurgency operations in States that face Left wing extremist problem.
Just a day after Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram announced the plan to withdraw the Central Reserve Police Force from Kashmir, during his visit to the Valley on June 11, the Maoist Polit Bureau (PB) has sent out a circular to its fighters asking them to get prepared for a long-drawn battle apprehending that the CRPF pullout is a precursor to an all-round offensive against Maoists.
Refined strategy
Maoists believe that the Centre’s move to “redraw lines of responsibility” among the Army, the paramilitary forces and the Kashmir police is part of a refined counter-insurgency strategy to be implemented in Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal and other Maoist-affected States.
Their analysis is that the Chhattisgarh government will shortly launch a major offensive to take over Abuz Maad in Bastar forests (about 4,000 sq km), dubbed as the Maoist military headquarters. The redeployment of the central forces will lead to a “long-drawn” armed conflict, the Polit Bureau has cautioned.
Sole intention
The Maoist strategy to counter the offensive is to step up violence in its ‘strongholds and areas of struggle’ with the sole intention to “disperse the enemy’s [the State’s] forces over a significantly wide area.”
In the 14-page circular, a copy of which is available with The Hindu, the PB has asked the rebel ranks to “further aggravate the situation and create more difficulties to enemy forces by expanding guerilla war to newer areas,” under what it terms a Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign (TCOC).
The forthright call to take up TCOC and inflict severe losses to the security forces by “meticulously planning the actions,” has the counter-insurgency specialists worried. They point out that the onset of the rainy season is not the right time to take up anti-naxal operations as most of the forest areas become totally inaccessible.
“… Tactical counter-offensives should be stepped up and also taken up in new areas so as to divert a section of the enemy forces from attacking our guerilla bases …”
This unequivocal assertion, analysts say, is a firm indication that the Maoist-affected States will witness more violence in the coming days. The military superiority of the rebel fighters has been proved by massive strikes against the police in the recent elections in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa and Maharashtra.
The continuous attacks caused the death of 112 police personnel, including paramilitary forces, between April 6 and June 12, the day the PB released the circular.
Taking stock of the political situation in the country, the PB feels that the “relative stability” of the United Progressive Alliance government will lead to a more determined military offensive against the Maoist movement.
Going by the circular, the rebels’ focus will now be on defending their bases and zones in Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand. Their plan, apparently, is to rope in the militant anti-government organisations in the battle to fight the government forces.
Intelligence sources, who monitor the left wing extremist violence, indicate that there indeed is a plan to move at least 10 battalions of the Central Para Military Forces (CPMF) from Kashmir to Chhattisgarh after the troops underwent a month-long training. Kashmir and Chhattisgarh have different battle conditions. The forces have to be trained at least for a month as they move from one theatre of conflict to another, says a senior police officer.
The sources said:
“The pullout will begin from Kashmir, where 58 battalions of the CRPF are deployed. This is the only theatre of conflict where we can divert some forces. The Home Ministry too is of the opinion that the Jammu and Kashmir police should be on the frontline in the maintenance of law and order and not the CPMF.
“The situation in the northeast, the other major theatre of conflict, is becoming volatile again. Hence, troop pullout is not advisable. The third theatre of conflict involving the left wing extremism should receive more focus now.”
At present, 33 battalions of the CPMF are deployed in various States, with Chhattisgarh having 17, followed by Jharkhand 6, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Orissa 4 each, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal one each. Chhattisgarh, the epicentre of the Maoist activity, has been demanding the deployment of at least 55 battalions to take on the naxals.
Fall of LTTE
The PB sounds a note of caution, saying Maoists could learn a lesson or two from the setback the LTTE faced in the hands of Sri Lankan defence forces. It feels that the LTTE “failed to study the changes in enemy tactics, capabilities, international support” and this underestimation of enemy, coupled with overestimation of its strength, led to its defeat. “The LTTE’s fall will have a negative effect on revolutionary movement in India as well as South Asia too,” the PB notes.
A corridor from west to south!
Express News Service First Published : 06 Jul 2009 11:18:45 AM ISTLast Updated :
SAMBALPUR: Emboldened by their recent success when a police sub-inspector was killed fighting them, the Naxals are said to have intensified their campaign to open a corridor to south Orissa from Saranda forest in Jharkhand through some districts in western Orissa. They are planning to work on the corridor before they leave for their villages for cultivation during monsoon, intelligence inputs said.
Normally, Naxals return to their villages during the monsoon as their movements get curtailed due to overflowing of rivulets and growth of trees inside the forests. Since most of the Naxal cadres active in the district are from Jharkhand, which has virtually no irrigation facilities, they go back to their villages and work on their rain-fed fields or that of others. With the dense Saranda forest located on the Orissa-Jharkhand border, the Naxals have already made their presence felt in the mining belt of Bonai sub-division in Sundargarh district besides Keonjhar which shares border with Sundargarh and Mayurbhanj. And the forest areas are giving them safe passage from the Sundargarh border to Deogarh and Sambalpur through Gurundia block in Sundargarh district and to Laimura in Deogarh. Reports said the Naxals are now working hard to cross the river Mahanadi in Sonepur and Boudh before they touch Kandhamal where they already have presence. With Maoist posters already appearing in Sonepur, it is widely believed that they travelled to Chhattisgarh through Boudh, Balangir and Nuapada after the Nayagarh mayhem. It is said that the Naxals now want to establish a permanent corridor to give impetus to their movement along the ‘red corridor’ from Saranda in Jharkhand to South Orissa. Sources in the police admitting to the Naxals’ strategy to establish a corridor have chalked out a plan to thwart their strategy.
SAMBALPUR: Emboldened by their recent success when a police sub-inspector was killed fighting them, the Naxals are said to have intensified their campaign to open a corridor to south Orissa from Saranda forest in Jharkhand through some districts in western Orissa. They are planning to work on the corridor before they leave for their villages for cultivation during monsoon, intelligence inputs said.
Normally, Naxals return to their villages during the monsoon as their movements get curtailed due to overflowing of rivulets and growth of trees inside the forests. Since most of the Naxal cadres active in the district are from Jharkhand, which has virtually no irrigation facilities, they go back to their villages and work on their rain-fed fields or that of others. With the dense Saranda forest located on the Orissa-Jharkhand border, the Naxals have already made their presence felt in the mining belt of Bonai sub-division in Sundargarh district besides Keonjhar which shares border with Sundargarh and Mayurbhanj. And the forest areas are giving them safe passage from the Sundargarh border to Deogarh and Sambalpur through Gurundia block in Sundargarh district and to Laimura in Deogarh. Reports said the Naxals are now working hard to cross the river Mahanadi in Sonepur and Boudh before they touch Kandhamal where they already have presence. With Maoist posters already appearing in Sonepur, it is widely believed that they travelled to Chhattisgarh through Boudh, Balangir and Nuapada after the Nayagarh mayhem. It is said that the Naxals now want to establish a permanent corridor to give impetus to their movement along the ‘red corridor’ from Saranda in Jharkhand to South Orissa. Sources in the police admitting to the Naxals’ strategy to establish a corridor have chalked out a plan to thwart their strategy.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
4 more Maoists held in Purulia
5 Jul 2009, 0353 hrs IST, Falguni Banerjee, TNN
PURULIA: Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee may have restrained his police from booking Maoists under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act
(UAPA), but his government has kept the pressure on by arresting four more rebels on Friday night this time from Ghatberakerua near Purulia's Ayodhya hills. One of those arrested is a woman.
These Maoists were squad trainers, home secretary Ardhendu Sen said on Saturday. Malindra Besra, Gostho Gope, Haradhan Kumar and Mala Kumari (all in their early 20s) were picked up from Ghatberakerua under Balarampur police station late on Friday night. They were allegedly carrying pistols, landmine accessories and Maoist literature.
Purulia SP Rajesh Kumar Yadav held elaborate meetings in the district headquarters on Saturday morning to carefully frame charges against those arrested. The four are likely to be booked under various sections of the IPC and can only be booked under UAPA if the home secretary so orders.
The arrests have created quite a sensation in the area considering that five CPM leaders were killed in and around the Balarampur police station area in the last six months. Last month, Maoists had locked the Ghatberakerua panchayat office in an attempt to intimidate residents.
"We have been keeping a close watch on Maoists' movement here ever since the Lalgarh operations. The police were especially kept on alert because the Ayodhya hills are a convenient escape route from Lalgrah. We had information that those fleeing Lalgarh may take refuge in and around the Ayodhya hills," said a police official.
However, Nishikanta Mehta, district Forward Bloc president, felt that the police had reacted too late in the day. "We kept alerting the police about the rebels' movement since the last panchayat elections, but nobody heeded to our warnings," he said.
Manindra Gope, CPM state committee member, echoed: "Police should have been more cautious about the Maoists' whereabouts and their activities in Purulia." Trinamool Congress district president K P Singh Deo skirted the issue of arrest and preferred to talk about the "Left Front government's total failure in development". He said: "If people are starving, they would naturally resort to all sorts of crime."
Police said they have also beefed up security in Arsha and Bandwan, too, as they suspect that although some Maoists have fled to Jharkhand, a few have stayed back in Purulia.
The Maoist-backed People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA), meanwhile, has called a bandh across the three districts of Bankura, West Midnapore and Purulia on July 8. PCPA spokesperson Chhatradhar Mahato said on Saturday that the bandh has been called to protest the arrest of 30 PCPA workers, the warrant issued against him and the harassment of city intellectuals, who went to Lalgarh during the joint operations. PCPA has sought the support of all political parties.
PURULIA: Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee may have restrained his police from booking Maoists under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act
(UAPA), but his government has kept the pressure on by arresting four more rebels on Friday night this time from Ghatberakerua near Purulia's Ayodhya hills. One of those arrested is a woman.
These Maoists were squad trainers, home secretary Ardhendu Sen said on Saturday. Malindra Besra, Gostho Gope, Haradhan Kumar and Mala Kumari (all in their early 20s) were picked up from Ghatberakerua under Balarampur police station late on Friday night. They were allegedly carrying pistols, landmine accessories and Maoist literature.
Purulia SP Rajesh Kumar Yadav held elaborate meetings in the district headquarters on Saturday morning to carefully frame charges against those arrested. The four are likely to be booked under various sections of the IPC and can only be booked under UAPA if the home secretary so orders.
The arrests have created quite a sensation in the area considering that five CPM leaders were killed in and around the Balarampur police station area in the last six months. Last month, Maoists had locked the Ghatberakerua panchayat office in an attempt to intimidate residents.
"We have been keeping a close watch on Maoists' movement here ever since the Lalgarh operations. The police were especially kept on alert because the Ayodhya hills are a convenient escape route from Lalgrah. We had information that those fleeing Lalgarh may take refuge in and around the Ayodhya hills," said a police official.
However, Nishikanta Mehta, district Forward Bloc president, felt that the police had reacted too late in the day. "We kept alerting the police about the rebels' movement since the last panchayat elections, but nobody heeded to our warnings," he said.
Manindra Gope, CPM state committee member, echoed: "Police should have been more cautious about the Maoists' whereabouts and their activities in Purulia." Trinamool Congress district president K P Singh Deo skirted the issue of arrest and preferred to talk about the "Left Front government's total failure in development". He said: "If people are starving, they would naturally resort to all sorts of crime."
Police said they have also beefed up security in Arsha and Bandwan, too, as they suspect that although some Maoists have fled to Jharkhand, a few have stayed back in Purulia.
The Maoist-backed People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA), meanwhile, has called a bandh across the three districts of Bankura, West Midnapore and Purulia on July 8. PCPA spokesperson Chhatradhar Mahato said on Saturday that the bandh has been called to protest the arrest of 30 PCPA workers, the warrant issued against him and the harassment of city intellectuals, who went to Lalgarh during the joint operations. PCPA has sought the support of all political parties.
Maoists, troop cut on PC plate
NISHIT DHOLABHAI
New Delhi, July 4: The home ministry has announced an ambitious 100-day agenda: “rationalising” paramilitary presence in Kashmir, a resolve for a “final settlement” with northeastern insurgents who have a cease-fire pact with the government, and intensifying the battle against the Maoists.
The ministry has set a September 30 deadline, which actually comes to 90 days since the announcement was made on Thursday.
In Kashmir, where some 70,000 CRPF personnel are now deployed, “rationalisation” will mean sending many of them back to the barracks if not pulling some out of the state altogether. The ministry has already announced it will take the CRPF out of Baramulla.
The rationalisation plan may also apply to the BSF personnel deployed away from the frontier in Jammu and Kashmir.
In Sheikhpura, Budgam district, the security forces have already been ordered out of the premises of the 200 flats being built for Kashmiri Pandits.
“Pending completion, the premises have been occupied by” the state police and the CRPF, the ministry’s agenda, labelled Action Plan II, says. “HM (home minister) has ordered vacation.”
Home minister P. Chidambaram has apparently taken a firm view against the security forces occupying public premises on a long-term basis.
In Maoist areas, the government plans an overhaul of the security set-up. It has promised an increase in security-related expenditure in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa in 2009-10.
Four more battalions of the CRPF’s elite anti-Maoist wing, Cobra, will be ready by 2010-2011, the ministry says. Orissa will get two ALF Dhruv helicopters to fight the Naxalites while insurgency-hit Tripura too will get two.
The ministry has pledged to appoint 6,666 special police officers (SPOs) in Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Orissa and Bihar.
Chidambaram also wants the National Counter Terrorism Centre set up by September 30, along with a tactical wing at the National Police Academy, Hyderabad, to counter rural and urban terrorism.
The national intelligence grid will be strengthened through sharing of inputs among the various agencies. The ministry wants to ready the scheme of central assistance to state intelligence wings by September 30.
The 100-day agenda says the government, within the same deadline, will firm up its views “on the proposals for final settlement” with northeastern militant groups with which it has cease-fire agreements. These include Naga, Garo, Bodo and Dimasa groups.
Such settlements — pivoted on the rebels’ acceptance of India’s Constitution and territorial integrity — aren’t easy as the years of talks with Naga militants have shown. Still, this is the first time Delhi has promised to put its stand in the public domain and spoken officially of a “final settlement”.
At the same time, the ministry plans to provide the Assam Rifles — a paramilitary force under the army’s operational command — with an intelligence wing and commando units.
Fencing and floodlighting of the country’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh will gain speed. By the September deadline, 383 outposts will be set up on the Bangladesh border and 126 on the Pakistan border.
New Delhi, July 4: The home ministry has announced an ambitious 100-day agenda: “rationalising” paramilitary presence in Kashmir, a resolve for a “final settlement” with northeastern insurgents who have a cease-fire pact with the government, and intensifying the battle against the Maoists.
The ministry has set a September 30 deadline, which actually comes to 90 days since the announcement was made on Thursday.
In Kashmir, where some 70,000 CRPF personnel are now deployed, “rationalisation” will mean sending many of them back to the barracks if not pulling some out of the state altogether. The ministry has already announced it will take the CRPF out of Baramulla.
The rationalisation plan may also apply to the BSF personnel deployed away from the frontier in Jammu and Kashmir.
In Sheikhpura, Budgam district, the security forces have already been ordered out of the premises of the 200 flats being built for Kashmiri Pandits.
“Pending completion, the premises have been occupied by” the state police and the CRPF, the ministry’s agenda, labelled Action Plan II, says. “HM (home minister) has ordered vacation.”
Home minister P. Chidambaram has apparently taken a firm view against the security forces occupying public premises on a long-term basis.
In Maoist areas, the government plans an overhaul of the security set-up. It has promised an increase in security-related expenditure in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa in 2009-10.
Four more battalions of the CRPF’s elite anti-Maoist wing, Cobra, will be ready by 2010-2011, the ministry says. Orissa will get two ALF Dhruv helicopters to fight the Naxalites while insurgency-hit Tripura too will get two.
The ministry has pledged to appoint 6,666 special police officers (SPOs) in Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Orissa and Bihar.
Chidambaram also wants the National Counter Terrorism Centre set up by September 30, along with a tactical wing at the National Police Academy, Hyderabad, to counter rural and urban terrorism.
The national intelligence grid will be strengthened through sharing of inputs among the various agencies. The ministry wants to ready the scheme of central assistance to state intelligence wings by September 30.
The 100-day agenda says the government, within the same deadline, will firm up its views “on the proposals for final settlement” with northeastern militant groups with which it has cease-fire agreements. These include Naga, Garo, Bodo and Dimasa groups.
Such settlements — pivoted on the rebels’ acceptance of India’s Constitution and territorial integrity — aren’t easy as the years of talks with Naga militants have shown. Still, this is the first time Delhi has promised to put its stand in the public domain and spoken officially of a “final settlement”.
At the same time, the ministry plans to provide the Assam Rifles — a paramilitary force under the army’s operational command — with an intelligence wing and commando units.
Fencing and floodlighting of the country’s borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh will gain speed. By the September deadline, 383 outposts will be set up on the Bangladesh border and 126 on the Pakistan border.
Police honour bravehearts
SANTOSH K. KIRO
Ranchi, July 4: Naxalites may have robbed them of their dear ones, but could break their spirit to fight back.
Widows and and relatives of Jharkhand Armed Police-I (JAP-I) jawans, who made sacrificed their lives in anti-Naxalite operations, today displayed rare courage by supporting the state’s fight against the outlawed outfit.
“I would like to join the Jharkhand Armed Police, just as my father had done,” said Akash Chhetri (6), the son of Suraj Bahadur Chhetri. A student of Firaylal Public School in the city, Akash probably does not remember having seen his father, who had died in a landmine blast along with three other JAP-I jawans on August 22, 2004.
Akash, along with the kin of eight other martyrs, were today felicitated by the home department at a function at JAP-I premises. Akash’s father, Suraj Bahadur and three others — Vikas Kumar Rana, Dhiren Tamang and Kundan Tamang — had died in the blast triggered by Naxalites in the forest of Rania in Khunti district.
“Life has been difficult after we lost the sole bread-earner of the family. But we pulled on somehow,” said Poonam Khetri, the daughter of Shadeo Khetri, one of the two bodyguards of Sunil Mahto, the MP killed by Naxalites on March 4, 2007. The other bodyguard, Deoraj Rai, also lost his life in the Naxalite attack.
The martyrs’ relatives, who recalled their dear ones with tears in their eyes, appreciated the gesture of the police department.
JAP-I commandant Suman Gupta had organised today’s one-of-a-kind function to share the grief of the family members.
“The sacrifice of family members can’t be even thought of. In due course, they feel neglected by the government. Such programmes are important for them to recognise their sacrifices,” said Hare Krishna Mishra, the inspector-general of police (JAP).
Deputy IG (JAP) Sampat Meena, who was also present, said she would ensure that other JAP battalions organises similar events for their martyrs.
“I urge the government to give a job to my daughter because after my son died no one is there to earn for my family,” said Sita Devi, the mother of Krishna Kumar Chhetri, who was killed in a Maoist landmine blast in Bokaro on May 2, 2005.
As he was unmarried, the police would have to find a way out to give a job to Krishna’s sister.
The relatives of Yam Thapa and Ram Bahadur Chhetri, who had also been killed in anti-Naxalite operations, were also felicitated.
Ranchi, July 4: Naxalites may have robbed them of their dear ones, but could break their spirit to fight back.
Widows and and relatives of Jharkhand Armed Police-I (JAP-I) jawans, who made sacrificed their lives in anti-Naxalite operations, today displayed rare courage by supporting the state’s fight against the outlawed outfit.
“I would like to join the Jharkhand Armed Police, just as my father had done,” said Akash Chhetri (6), the son of Suraj Bahadur Chhetri. A student of Firaylal Public School in the city, Akash probably does not remember having seen his father, who had died in a landmine blast along with three other JAP-I jawans on August 22, 2004.
Akash, along with the kin of eight other martyrs, were today felicitated by the home department at a function at JAP-I premises. Akash’s father, Suraj Bahadur and three others — Vikas Kumar Rana, Dhiren Tamang and Kundan Tamang — had died in the blast triggered by Naxalites in the forest of Rania in Khunti district.
“Life has been difficult after we lost the sole bread-earner of the family. But we pulled on somehow,” said Poonam Khetri, the daughter of Shadeo Khetri, one of the two bodyguards of Sunil Mahto, the MP killed by Naxalites on March 4, 2007. The other bodyguard, Deoraj Rai, also lost his life in the Naxalite attack.
The martyrs’ relatives, who recalled their dear ones with tears in their eyes, appreciated the gesture of the police department.
JAP-I commandant Suman Gupta had organised today’s one-of-a-kind function to share the grief of the family members.
“The sacrifice of family members can’t be even thought of. In due course, they feel neglected by the government. Such programmes are important for them to recognise their sacrifices,” said Hare Krishna Mishra, the inspector-general of police (JAP).
Deputy IG (JAP) Sampat Meena, who was also present, said she would ensure that other JAP battalions organises similar events for their martyrs.
“I urge the government to give a job to my daughter because after my son died no one is there to earn for my family,” said Sita Devi, the mother of Krishna Kumar Chhetri, who was killed in a Maoist landmine blast in Bokaro on May 2, 2005.
As he was unmarried, the police would have to find a way out to give a job to Krishna’s sister.
The relatives of Yam Thapa and Ram Bahadur Chhetri, who had also been killed in anti-Naxalite operations, were also felicitated.
‘There are no Maoists in Andhra’
HYDERABAD, 4 July: Chief minister Dr YS Rajashekar Reddy today attributed the absence of Naxalism in the state, both as an issue and a threat, during the general elections largely to the development in Andhra Pradesh during his first term.
“Soon after the Maoists walked out of the talks in 2004 their recruitment came down radically. Alongside there was considerable developmental activities. Most importantly farmers and their families were able to see the changes in their lives because of free power and emphasis on irrigation. Police too has done an excellent job in containing them consistently. Maoists had no option but withdraw from the scene”, Dr Reddy said in an exclusive interview to The Statesman.
“Despite Naxalism not being an election issue for the first time in over 25 years, I would still need to emphasise that we need to be on our guard. We just cannot afford to loosen our vigil even though we have gained the upper hand”, he said.
On what was the toughest part in this election, he said: “It was basically a straightforward election. Six months before the election, it was simple that we go through the motions, like campaign and candidates, correctly. But with the benefit of hindsight it does appears that we put in hard work. And that was only because of the new entrant ~ Praja Rajyam Party ~ which made it a triangular contest in some places”.
On the contrast in the election delivering a massive 33 Lok Sabha seats out of 42, but only 156 Assembly seats out of 294 to the Congress he said: “Six weeks after the results I can safely say that there is a common thread running through most of our certain seats we lost. All over it’s a couple of local factors that went against our candidates. In one instance if the candidate antagonised the cadre, in another the candidate detached from a particular community: He rejected the argument that it was a very close race between the Congress and the TDP-led Grand Alliance. “The TDP was never in the reckoning. All the six LS seats they won are by default. It was our mistakes that helped them win. Over half of the 90-odd Assembly seats they won, were again by default”.
On how he views the second term, he said: “There is plenty of work at hand. We have to stand up and deliver on welfare and development. We need to complete our irrigation projects without further delay”. When told that he appears to have set his eyes on the 2014 elections, he said, “That election would be much easier for us. But then we have just finished one election and it’s premature to talk of the next”.
“Soon after the Maoists walked out of the talks in 2004 their recruitment came down radically. Alongside there was considerable developmental activities. Most importantly farmers and their families were able to see the changes in their lives because of free power and emphasis on irrigation. Police too has done an excellent job in containing them consistently. Maoists had no option but withdraw from the scene”, Dr Reddy said in an exclusive interview to The Statesman.
“Despite Naxalism not being an election issue for the first time in over 25 years, I would still need to emphasise that we need to be on our guard. We just cannot afford to loosen our vigil even though we have gained the upper hand”, he said.
On what was the toughest part in this election, he said: “It was basically a straightforward election. Six months before the election, it was simple that we go through the motions, like campaign and candidates, correctly. But with the benefit of hindsight it does appears that we put in hard work. And that was only because of the new entrant ~ Praja Rajyam Party ~ which made it a triangular contest in some places”.
On the contrast in the election delivering a massive 33 Lok Sabha seats out of 42, but only 156 Assembly seats out of 294 to the Congress he said: “Six weeks after the results I can safely say that there is a common thread running through most of our certain seats we lost. All over it’s a couple of local factors that went against our candidates. In one instance if the candidate antagonised the cadre, in another the candidate detached from a particular community: He rejected the argument that it was a very close race between the Congress and the TDP-led Grand Alliance. “The TDP was never in the reckoning. All the six LS seats they won are by default. It was our mistakes that helped them win. Over half of the 90-odd Assembly seats they won, were again by default”.
On how he views the second term, he said: “There is plenty of work at hand. We have to stand up and deliver on welfare and development. We need to complete our irrigation projects without further delay”. When told that he appears to have set his eyes on the 2014 elections, he said, “That election would be much easier for us. But then we have just finished one election and it’s premature to talk of the next”.
Six Jharkhand-based Maoists held in orissa
Published: July 4,2009
Rourkela , July 4 In a major breakthrough, six hardcore Maoists belonging to Jharkhand Badshah group were arrested from different areas in Orissa&aposs Sundargarh district today, police said.
The ultras were nabbed during raids on their hideouts at several remote villages in the district, Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Biramitrapur, Suman Dutta said.
After thorough interrogation, their involvement was established in as many as 15 cases including robbery, dacoity and collection of ransom in Sundargarh district.
The red rebels were operating in Raibaga, Biramitrapur, Hatibari and Rajgangpur police limits, he said.
Source: PTI
Rourkela , July 4 In a major breakthrough, six hardcore Maoists belonging to Jharkhand Badshah group were arrested from different areas in Orissa&aposs Sundargarh district today, police said.
The ultras were nabbed during raids on their hideouts at several remote villages in the district, Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Biramitrapur, Suman Dutta said.
After thorough interrogation, their involvement was established in as many as 15 cases including robbery, dacoity and collection of ransom in Sundargarh district.
The red rebels were operating in Raibaga, Biramitrapur, Hatibari and Rajgangpur police limits, he said.
Source: PTI
Security forces reclaim more areas in West Midnapore
Lalgarh, WB (PTI): Security forces and police reclaimed two more areas from Maoists in West Midnapore district, officials said here on Saturday.
In a four-pronged attack, a team of security forces and police set out from bases in Binpur, another from Pirakata and one each from Salboni and Ramgarh to converge on Kalimudri and Madhupur villages, 8 km from these two villages, West Midnapore Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma who led the operations, told reporters.
The fifth-phase of the operation, entering its 16th day, was to clear the villages and forests by building a protective ring after capturing key locations to prevent movement by Maoists who might still be holed up.
"The forces met with no resistance and flushing out operations were conducted on an eight kilometer stretch," Mr. Verma said.
"The operations began at 6:00 am and the forces reached Kalimudri and Madhupur by afternoon," he added.
In a four-pronged attack, a team of security forces and police set out from bases in Binpur, another from Pirakata and one each from Salboni and Ramgarh to converge on Kalimudri and Madhupur villages, 8 km from these two villages, West Midnapore Superintendent of Police Manoj Verma who led the operations, told reporters.
The fifth-phase of the operation, entering its 16th day, was to clear the villages and forests by building a protective ring after capturing key locations to prevent movement by Maoists who might still be holed up.
"The forces met with no resistance and flushing out operations were conducted on an eight kilometer stretch," Mr. Verma said.
"The operations began at 6:00 am and the forces reached Kalimudri and Madhupur by afternoon," he added.
PLGA commander quits outfit
4 Jul 2009, 2204 hrs IST, Uttam Mukherjee, TNN
LOHARDAGA: Sub-zonal platoon commander of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Sanjay Yadav has parted ways with the outfit along with his
trusted lieutenants. PLGA, the ultra outfit of the CPI(Maoist), is quite active in the Lohardaga-Latehar-Gumla region.
Sources in the state intelligence claimed that Sanjay quit the PLGA due to his growing differences with the outfit's zonal commander Nakul Yadav. They said that although he has not yet announced his decision to either form a separate outfit or join hands with the People Liberation Front of India, it is probable in all likelihood that he may, indeed, form a separate outfit which would eventually be joined by other disgruntled Maoist cadres from Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh.
The sources claimed that some Maoist cadres from Orissa and Chhattisgarh have already joined Sanjay's group, which is currently camping in the bordering areas of Lohardaga and Gumla.
Lohardaga SP Subodh Prasad said: "We have reports that Sanjay and his close aides have parted ways with the PLGA along with a huge amount of money and arms. We also have information that Nakul's group is on the lookout for Sanjay's hideout. Police, of course, are looking for both the groups."
LOHARDAGA: Sub-zonal platoon commander of the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Sanjay Yadav has parted ways with the outfit along with his
trusted lieutenants. PLGA, the ultra outfit of the CPI(Maoist), is quite active in the Lohardaga-Latehar-Gumla region.
Sources in the state intelligence claimed that Sanjay quit the PLGA due to his growing differences with the outfit's zonal commander Nakul Yadav. They said that although he has not yet announced his decision to either form a separate outfit or join hands with the People Liberation Front of India, it is probable in all likelihood that he may, indeed, form a separate outfit which would eventually be joined by other disgruntled Maoist cadres from Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Chhattisgarh.
The sources claimed that some Maoist cadres from Orissa and Chhattisgarh have already joined Sanjay's group, which is currently camping in the bordering areas of Lohardaga and Gumla.
Lohardaga SP Subodh Prasad said: "We have reports that Sanjay and his close aides have parted ways with the PLGA along with a huge amount of money and arms. We also have information that Nakul's group is on the lookout for Sanjay's hideout. Police, of course, are looking for both the groups."
QUOTE OF THE DAY: KPS Gill
"If the Maoists are to be defeated, the state and its agencies will have to develop a detailed understanding of their strategies, tactics and underlying ideology. Such an understanding is now conspicuous by its absence, with the notable exception of the police leadership in Andhra Pradesh and a few officers in the intelligence establishment." -- K P S Gill
Crack tactics, tackle Maoists -- K.P.S. GILL
Wherever I have confronted terrorism and insurgency, from early encounters with Naxalism in Assam, through the multiple insurgencies in that state, then, in Kashmir, Punjab and, eventually, in Chhattisgarh, my first effort was always to develop a fair understanding of motive, intent and ideology of the groups. It is out of these that their strategies and tactics flow.
The degree of force, the nature of targets, the tactics and weapons deployed — each of these is defined by the underlying character and objectives of the group’s leadership.
Despite the fact that the Khalistani terrorists claimed to be fighting for Sikh rights, the reality was that this was an opportunistic platform for people who were trying to seize power through the use of limitless and indiscriminate violence. Significantly, a majority of their targets were, in fact, the very Sikhs they claimed to be “protecting”.
On the other hand, I recall, that when local explosives were used in the serial blasts in Hyderabad in August 2007 — at that juncture, for the first time — there was some speculation that the attack may have been engineered by the Maoists. This was a line of conjecture that I rejected immediately. The Maoists have many sins to their name, but putting bombs in public places to target random civilians are not among these.
There was evidently a comprehensive failure of assessment on the part of the Marxists, not only in Lalgarh, but in the preceding proclivity to deny or distort the reality of the Maoist gains in the state. This can partly be explained in terms of the utterly polarised and muddied discourse in India.
What we see is a whole spectrum of perspectives from the ultra-romantic to sweeping condemnation: intellectuals and political players have alternately projected the Maoists as heroic defenders of the oppressed masses, or as “mere” criminals, thugs and extortionists.
The reality lies elsewhere. This is an ideologically motivated grouping – though not all its members could conceivably have a full comprehension of ideology and strategy. This is no different from the agencies of the state: how many footsoldiers of the paramilitary forces or police, for instance, understand the Constitution of India? The core leadership of the Maoists certainly has a coherent vision of ideology and approach. At lower levels, what we have is the mobilisation of “grievance guerrillas”, people who join the ranks because of specific wrongs, deficits and needs.
The crucial element that must be grasped is that the Maoists have never been able to create a “liberated area” anywhere in India. Once the security forces enter, they simply cede territories. There is never a direct and wider confrontation, though small police parties may be opportunistically ambushed.
What was seen at Lalgarh — despite panicked assessments of a Maoist “liberated zone” being carved out — was a transient and tactical disruption based on a specific local incident and through the creation of militant front organisation activity.
Even here, the dominance of the Maoists was vastly exaggerated. While I was in Midnapore — though I was prevented from entering the affected areas — I was able to talk to several villagers coming from what was generally thought to be “Maoist-dominated” territory. Oddly, when they were questioned, the replies encountered were that their village was free from Maoist influence, but others “10 to 15 kilometres away” were controlled by the rebels. Those familiar with such matters will confirm that this is the standard response across India for all unverified rumours.
By and large, the Maoists are essentially making inroads into regions of governmental neglect by trying to dominate areas that are either very lightly governed as a matter of policy, or where the reach of governance has diminished. This was dramatically visible during my tenure in Chhattisgarh.
There was much talk about the situation in Bastar, and how the Maoists had established “dominance” across this vast administrative division — the heart of violence in the state. What I found, however, was that the total presence of police forces in the area was abysmal. Across 39,114 square kilometres was a total sanctioned strength of 2,197 policemen (5.62 per 100 square kilometres). Actual availability was just 1,389, yielding a ratio of just 3.55 policemen per 100 square kilometres.
I recall that I travelled long distances through Chhattisgarh, often late at night, but would not see a single policeman on duty. Another signal abdication was police officers turning up for meetings in civilian clothes to avoid detection by the Maoists.
Much of current discourse attributes far more popular support to the Maoists than is, in fact, the case. Thus, we are told (inaccurately) that the Maoists principally dominate tribal areas because these populations are among the poorest of the poor. What is ignored here is the sheer and demonstrative brutality of the Maoists — cold-blooded killings; the cutting off of limbs for the smallest of infractions; harsh and humiliating punishments for “co-operating” with the government, or otherwise acting against the will of the local Maoist leadership.
This, precisely, was what was on display in Lalgarh. No other tactical purpose was served through the killing of Marxist cadres and the macabre display of at least one corpse for days on end, other than to inspire widespread terror. It is notable that once the security forces had moved back into Lalgarh the thousands who had fled the Maoist terror quickly returned to their homes.
If the Maoists are to be defeated, the state and its agencies will have to develop a detailed understanding of their strategies, tactics and underlying ideology. Such an understanding is now conspicuous by its absence, with the notable exception of the police leadership in Andhra Pradesh and a few officers in the intelligence establishment. To my surprise, it appears to be evidently and abundantly lacking among the Marxists in West Bengal.
The degree of force, the nature of targets, the tactics and weapons deployed — each of these is defined by the underlying character and objectives of the group’s leadership.
Despite the fact that the Khalistani terrorists claimed to be fighting for Sikh rights, the reality was that this was an opportunistic platform for people who were trying to seize power through the use of limitless and indiscriminate violence. Significantly, a majority of their targets were, in fact, the very Sikhs they claimed to be “protecting”.
On the other hand, I recall, that when local explosives were used in the serial blasts in Hyderabad in August 2007 — at that juncture, for the first time — there was some speculation that the attack may have been engineered by the Maoists. This was a line of conjecture that I rejected immediately. The Maoists have many sins to their name, but putting bombs in public places to target random civilians are not among these.
There was evidently a comprehensive failure of assessment on the part of the Marxists, not only in Lalgarh, but in the preceding proclivity to deny or distort the reality of the Maoist gains in the state. This can partly be explained in terms of the utterly polarised and muddied discourse in India.
What we see is a whole spectrum of perspectives from the ultra-romantic to sweeping condemnation: intellectuals and political players have alternately projected the Maoists as heroic defenders of the oppressed masses, or as “mere” criminals, thugs and extortionists.
The reality lies elsewhere. This is an ideologically motivated grouping – though not all its members could conceivably have a full comprehension of ideology and strategy. This is no different from the agencies of the state: how many footsoldiers of the paramilitary forces or police, for instance, understand the Constitution of India? The core leadership of the Maoists certainly has a coherent vision of ideology and approach. At lower levels, what we have is the mobilisation of “grievance guerrillas”, people who join the ranks because of specific wrongs, deficits and needs.
The crucial element that must be grasped is that the Maoists have never been able to create a “liberated area” anywhere in India. Once the security forces enter, they simply cede territories. There is never a direct and wider confrontation, though small police parties may be opportunistically ambushed.
What was seen at Lalgarh — despite panicked assessments of a Maoist “liberated zone” being carved out — was a transient and tactical disruption based on a specific local incident and through the creation of militant front organisation activity.
Even here, the dominance of the Maoists was vastly exaggerated. While I was in Midnapore — though I was prevented from entering the affected areas — I was able to talk to several villagers coming from what was generally thought to be “Maoist-dominated” territory. Oddly, when they were questioned, the replies encountered were that their village was free from Maoist influence, but others “10 to 15 kilometres away” were controlled by the rebels. Those familiar with such matters will confirm that this is the standard response across India for all unverified rumours.
By and large, the Maoists are essentially making inroads into regions of governmental neglect by trying to dominate areas that are either very lightly governed as a matter of policy, or where the reach of governance has diminished. This was dramatically visible during my tenure in Chhattisgarh.
There was much talk about the situation in Bastar, and how the Maoists had established “dominance” across this vast administrative division — the heart of violence in the state. What I found, however, was that the total presence of police forces in the area was abysmal. Across 39,114 square kilometres was a total sanctioned strength of 2,197 policemen (5.62 per 100 square kilometres). Actual availability was just 1,389, yielding a ratio of just 3.55 policemen per 100 square kilometres.
I recall that I travelled long distances through Chhattisgarh, often late at night, but would not see a single policeman on duty. Another signal abdication was police officers turning up for meetings in civilian clothes to avoid detection by the Maoists.
Much of current discourse attributes far more popular support to the Maoists than is, in fact, the case. Thus, we are told (inaccurately) that the Maoists principally dominate tribal areas because these populations are among the poorest of the poor. What is ignored here is the sheer and demonstrative brutality of the Maoists — cold-blooded killings; the cutting off of limbs for the smallest of infractions; harsh and humiliating punishments for “co-operating” with the government, or otherwise acting against the will of the local Maoist leadership.
This, precisely, was what was on display in Lalgarh. No other tactical purpose was served through the killing of Marxist cadres and the macabre display of at least one corpse for days on end, other than to inspire widespread terror. It is notable that once the security forces had moved back into Lalgarh the thousands who had fled the Maoist terror quickly returned to their homes.
If the Maoists are to be defeated, the state and its agencies will have to develop a detailed understanding of their strategies, tactics and underlying ideology. Such an understanding is now conspicuous by its absence, with the notable exception of the police leadership in Andhra Pradesh and a few officers in the intelligence establishment. To my surprise, it appears to be evidently and abundantly lacking among the Marxists in West Bengal.
Black money, Maoist threat impede electoral process: EC
- Role of black money in elections,
- threat to voters from Maoists,
- mushroom growth of political parties and
- casual approach of urban voters
impede the electoral process in the country
"Role of black money is the biggest problem. We admit that we have failed to curb it. In the 30 days' of the election process we cannot contain black money," he said last night at a seminar on 'Indian Elections 2009 - Trends and Perspectives'.
Quraishi also spoke of the fire power of the Maoists, deterring voters from exercising their franchise.
He expressed concern over mushroom growth of political parties in the country and pointed out that at present there were some 1,200 small parties. "Some of these even run from betel shops," he said in a lighter vein.
Quraishi said the causal approach of urban voters towards elections was "a dangerous trend". "Voters do not have the right to criticise a government if they do not play a part in its formation", he said.
He expressed satisfaction over less violence during the recent Lok Sabha polls and said booth capturing has become a thing of the past, thanks to the strict measures adopted by the Commission.
Former Maoist bride thrown out by in-laws
3 Jul 2009, 2301 hrs IST, Mihir Ray, TNN
ROURKELA: Four years ago, Kandri Lohar made headlines across the state after she quit the Maoist camp and married a local youth. The ceremony was
solemnized in the presence of senior police officials and bureaucrats. She is in news again, but this time for not so happy reasons.
Mother of a two-and-a-half-year-old son, Kandri has been thrown out from her in-laws' house and is struggling to earn a living. Desperate, Kandri filed a complaint with the Rourkela police. They then arrested her husband Shankar Barua, mother-in-law Sita Barua and sister-in-law Sangita Barua under Section 498(A), 506 and 34 of the IPC for allegedly torturing her.
Since Kandri was brave enough to quit the red brigade and begin life afresh, her husband was promised a job and the couple a house under the Indira Awas Yojana and Rs 50,000 in cash. None of this materialized and people soon forgot her story.
"When I left the rebel gang and got married four years ago, I had lot of hope for my future. For a moment I thought the world is at my feet. Government officials assured me all support. But soon after the marriage, authorities forgot me. I kept reminding them about their promise but nothing was done," Kandri said.
"With time I became a victim of domestic violence in my family. My in-laws did not have much to fall back on and were expecting to reap the benefits from my compensation. They also demanded a dowry. Things became worse after the birth of my son. My husband and mother-in-law threw me out of their house and I was forced to come back to live with my parents," she added.
Kandri then met Rourkela SP Diptesh Pattnaik and narrated her plight. "He not only gave me a patient hearing but also assured me of all support. He has already initiated action against my in-laws and I am confident justice will be done," Kandri added.
ROURKELA: Four years ago, Kandri Lohar made headlines across the state after she quit the Maoist camp and married a local youth. The ceremony was
solemnized in the presence of senior police officials and bureaucrats. She is in news again, but this time for not so happy reasons.
Mother of a two-and-a-half-year-old son, Kandri has been thrown out from her in-laws' house and is struggling to earn a living. Desperate, Kandri filed a complaint with the Rourkela police. They then arrested her husband Shankar Barua, mother-in-law Sita Barua and sister-in-law Sangita Barua under Section 498(A), 506 and 34 of the IPC for allegedly torturing her.
Since Kandri was brave enough to quit the red brigade and begin life afresh, her husband was promised a job and the couple a house under the Indira Awas Yojana and Rs 50,000 in cash. None of this materialized and people soon forgot her story.
"When I left the rebel gang and got married four years ago, I had lot of hope for my future. For a moment I thought the world is at my feet. Government officials assured me all support. But soon after the marriage, authorities forgot me. I kept reminding them about their promise but nothing was done," Kandri said.
"With time I became a victim of domestic violence in my family. My in-laws did not have much to fall back on and were expecting to reap the benefits from my compensation. They also demanded a dowry. Things became worse after the birth of my son. My husband and mother-in-law threw me out of their house and I was forced to come back to live with my parents," she added.
Kandri then met Rourkela SP Diptesh Pattnaik and narrated her plight. "He not only gave me a patient hearing but also assured me of all support. He has already initiated action against my in-laws and I am confident justice will be done," Kandri added.
Maoists extort Rs.300 cr annually in Chhattisgarh: Raman Singh
Raipur (IANS): Maoist rebels extort up to Rs.300 crore every year in Chhattisgarh from traders of forest products, transporters and iron ore mining firms, says Chief Minister Raman Singh.
"Maoists extort at least Rs.250-300 crore (Rs.2.5-3 billion) annually and their extortion business runs from the state's southern tip of Bastar to the northern Surguja district," Singh told IANS.
"They mainly extort money from traders of 'tendu' leaves, iron ore mining firms, small and big contractors and transporters," added the 57-year-old politician.
Tendu leaves, which are used to make bidis (leaf-rolled cigarettes), are one of the most important forest products of the Bastar region that has been considered the nervecentre of Maoist terrorism in India since the late 1980s.
The restive region spread across 40,000 sq km has deposits of about 20 percent of the country's total iron ore stocks and owners of the mines regularly face extortion demands from Maoists.
"The traders, businessmen, contractors and others who pay extortion money hardly have the courage to report it to the police because of the fear of Maoists and their own business interests in the region," said Singh.
Of the 1,500 casualties in Maoist violence since the state came into existence in November 2000 after splitting from Madhya Pradesh, 90 percent have been from Bastar.
"The Maoists also force people in the Surguja region to cough up money," added the chief minister.
The Surguja region is one of the most coal-rich areas of the country. It is home to several mines of the public sector Coal India Limited's (CIL) highest profit-making subsidiary, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL).
Singh, who is serving a second consecutive term as chief minister, reiterated that Maoist militancy was not confined to Chhattisgarh and suggested that better coordination among states hit by the menace along with support from the centre might be effective in dismantling the rebels' terror infrastructure.
He praised the central government for having taking the "bold decision" June 22 to brand the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) a terrorist outfit.
"On the issue of taking on Maoists, there is no disagreement between the Chhattisgarh government and the centre. We both want to deal with it firmly and decisively," said the chief minister.
"The Chhattisgarh government is working on raising the strength of forces trained in jungle warfare besides modernising the police force to wipe out the Maoists," he added.
"Maoists extort at least Rs.250-300 crore (Rs.2.5-3 billion) annually and their extortion business runs from the state's southern tip of Bastar to the northern Surguja district," Singh told IANS.
"They mainly extort money from traders of 'tendu' leaves, iron ore mining firms, small and big contractors and transporters," added the 57-year-old politician.
Tendu leaves, which are used to make bidis (leaf-rolled cigarettes), are one of the most important forest products of the Bastar region that has been considered the nervecentre of Maoist terrorism in India since the late 1980s.
The restive region spread across 40,000 sq km has deposits of about 20 percent of the country's total iron ore stocks and owners of the mines regularly face extortion demands from Maoists.
"The traders, businessmen, contractors and others who pay extortion money hardly have the courage to report it to the police because of the fear of Maoists and their own business interests in the region," said Singh.
Of the 1,500 casualties in Maoist violence since the state came into existence in November 2000 after splitting from Madhya Pradesh, 90 percent have been from Bastar.
"The Maoists also force people in the Surguja region to cough up money," added the chief minister.
The Surguja region is one of the most coal-rich areas of the country. It is home to several mines of the public sector Coal India Limited's (CIL) highest profit-making subsidiary, South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL).
Singh, who is serving a second consecutive term as chief minister, reiterated that Maoist militancy was not confined to Chhattisgarh and suggested that better coordination among states hit by the menace along with support from the centre might be effective in dismantling the rebels' terror infrastructure.
He praised the central government for having taking the "bold decision" June 22 to brand the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) a terrorist outfit.
"On the issue of taking on Maoists, there is no disagreement between the Chhattisgarh government and the centre. We both want to deal with it firmly and decisively," said the chief minister.
"The Chhattisgarh government is working on raising the strength of forces trained in jungle warfare besides modernising the police force to wipe out the Maoists," he added.
Naxalites abduct two buses with eight employees in Bihar
Gaya (PTI): Armed squads of proscribed CPI(Maoist) abducted two private buses along with eight employees in Bihar's Gaya district on Saturday.
Deputy Inspector General of Police(Magadh range) Anupama Nilekar said the passengers were forced by the ultras to alight before they sped away with the buses towards Jharkhand.
Efforts are on to trace the buses and the abducted employees, who comprise the two drivers, two conductors and four cleaners.
The owner of the two buses Ravi Ranjan Singh said the Maoists abducted the buses at Maigra and Phulwaria villages, about 70 kms from the district headquarters, when the vehicles were on way to Gaya from Dumaria and from Gaya to Kothi.
Mr. Singh said the Maoists had demanded a levy from him for allowing him to ply the vehicles and abducted the buses as he did not.
Deputy Inspector General of Police(Magadh range) Anupama Nilekar said the passengers were forced by the ultras to alight before they sped away with the buses towards Jharkhand.
Efforts are on to trace the buses and the abducted employees, who comprise the two drivers, two conductors and four cleaners.
The owner of the two buses Ravi Ranjan Singh said the Maoists abducted the buses at Maigra and Phulwaria villages, about 70 kms from the district headquarters, when the vehicles were on way to Gaya from Dumaria and from Gaya to Kothi.
Mr. Singh said the Maoists had demanded a levy from him for allowing him to ply the vehicles and abducted the buses as he did not.
'Enhance public accountability of police'
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Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, July 04, 2009
First Published: 20:19 IST(4/7/2009)
Last Updated: 20:20 IST(4/7/2009)
Print
Advocating speedy reforms in policing, former Chief Justice of India J S Verma and ex-CEC N Gopalaswami on Saturday emphasised on the need for enhancing public accountability of police.
Addressing a seminar on the 'Making our police effective and people-friendly' in New Delhi, Justice Verma identified "lack of political will" as the biggest stumbling block for carrying out police reforms in the country.
"We will have to build public pressure to force government to carry out police reform in the country as there is a lack of political will for police reforms," he said.
Gopalaswami said police should be given training to interact with the citizens in a polite and responsive way. "Carrying out police reform is very important to ensure police-citizens interfaces," he said.
The first session of the seminar chaired by Justice Verma explored different dimensions of effective policing in the context of human rights, needs of disadvantaged sections, naxal violence and imperatives of national security.
The second session chaired by Gopalaswami discussed ways of improving police-citizen interfaces and enhancing public accountability of the police. The seminar was organised by Common Cause, a public interest organisation established by late H D Shourie.
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Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, July 04, 2009
First Published: 20:19 IST(4/7/2009)
Last Updated: 20:20 IST(4/7/2009)
Advocating speedy reforms in policing, former Chief Justice of India J S Verma and ex-CEC N Gopalaswami on Saturday emphasised on the need for enhancing public accountability of police.
Addressing a seminar on the 'Making our police effective and people-friendly' in New Delhi, Justice Verma identified "lack of political will" as the biggest stumbling block for carrying out police reforms in the country.
"We will have to build public pressure to force government to carry out police reform in the country as there is a lack of political will for police reforms," he said.
Gopalaswami said police should be given training to interact with the citizens in a polite and responsive way. "Carrying out police reform is very important to ensure police-citizens interfaces," he said.
The first session of the seminar chaired by Justice Verma explored different dimensions of effective policing in the context of human rights, needs of disadvantaged sections, naxal violence and imperatives of national security.
The second session chaired by Gopalaswami discussed ways of improving police-citizen interfaces and enhancing public accountability of the police. The seminar was organised by Common Cause, a public interest organisation established by late H D Shourie.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Intelligence input indicates terror threat to west coast: PC
PTI Wednesday, July 1, 2009 11:29 IST Email
Hyderabad/Chennai: Launching the NSG hubs, home minister P Chidambaram today said intelligence agencies have indicated a terror threat to the country's west coast but it did not mean that there will be an imminent attack.
"There is an intelligence input (and) as is the practice established recently, we share all inputs immediately with the state governments concerned.
There is an input that there could be a threat to the west coast. We have, therefore, shared it with (the governments of) Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra. But that does not mean that there is an imminent attack," he said inaugurating a regional hub of NSG in Hyderabad.
Earlier, opening a regional hub of NSG in Chennai, the home minister said special forces of the army will be used to set up anti-terror hubs in Bangalore and Jodhpur.
He said setting up of NSG units did not mean there was an increase in terror threat to the country.
"We are also using special forces of the army. Bangalore hub is by the special forces of the army. I am trying to set up a special force of the army in Jodhpur and one in Guwahati using the border security force", he said.
"Establishing NSG hubs will increase its flexibility and reach and it does not mean that terrorist threat has gone up in the country", he told reporters.
Referring to the November Mumbai terror attacks during which it took more than 12 hours for NSG to arrive from Gurgaon, Chidamabarm said NSG hubs would decrease the response time and would enable it to reach any part of the country quickly in case of any terror threat.
Chennai NSG hub is the second to be inaugurated after the one in Mumbai yesterday, six months after the terror strike in the country's commercial capital.
The home minister also said another regional centre of the National Security Guard would be opened at Ibrahimpatnam near Hyderabad over the next few years.
He said the proposed regional centre would be a replica of the one at Manesar in Haryana and would serve as a major training centre for police forces in south India.
While the regional hub of NSG has been opened with 241 commandos, the regional centre would have 5,150 members of the elite force, the home minister said.
He said NSG was not meant for seek and destroy operations and was intended for specialist commando operations.
To a question, the minister said no city in the country was a hub for terror. "You can't brand any city as a terror hub," he said.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy said special forces would be deployed for providing security on Tirumala Hills, visited by lakhs of devotees every year.
NSG director general NPS Aulakh, Hyderabad hub head Lt Col Sandeep Sen, State home minister P Sabita Reddy and other top officials were also present on the occasion.
Chidambaram handed over a scroll to Lt Col Sen marking the inauguration of the NSG Hyderabad hub.
Hyderabad/Chennai: Launching the NSG hubs, home minister P Chidambaram today said intelligence agencies have indicated a terror threat to the country's west coast but it did not mean that there will be an imminent attack.
"There is an intelligence input (and) as is the practice established recently, we share all inputs immediately with the state governments concerned.
There is an input that there could be a threat to the west coast. We have, therefore, shared it with (the governments of) Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra. But that does not mean that there is an imminent attack," he said inaugurating a regional hub of NSG in Hyderabad.
Earlier, opening a regional hub of NSG in Chennai, the home minister said special forces of the army will be used to set up anti-terror hubs in Bangalore and Jodhpur.
He said setting up of NSG units did not mean there was an increase in terror threat to the country.
"We are also using special forces of the army. Bangalore hub is by the special forces of the army. I am trying to set up a special force of the army in Jodhpur and one in Guwahati using the border security force", he said.
"Establishing NSG hubs will increase its flexibility and reach and it does not mean that terrorist threat has gone up in the country", he told reporters.
Referring to the November Mumbai terror attacks during which it took more than 12 hours for NSG to arrive from Gurgaon, Chidamabarm said NSG hubs would decrease the response time and would enable it to reach any part of the country quickly in case of any terror threat.
Chennai NSG hub is the second to be inaugurated after the one in Mumbai yesterday, six months after the terror strike in the country's commercial capital.
The home minister also said another regional centre of the National Security Guard would be opened at Ibrahimpatnam near Hyderabad over the next few years.
He said the proposed regional centre would be a replica of the one at Manesar in Haryana and would serve as a major training centre for police forces in south India.
While the regional hub of NSG has been opened with 241 commandos, the regional centre would have 5,150 members of the elite force, the home minister said.
He said NSG was not meant for seek and destroy operations and was intended for specialist commando operations.
To a question, the minister said no city in the country was a hub for terror. "You can't brand any city as a terror hub," he said.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy said special forces would be deployed for providing security on Tirumala Hills, visited by lakhs of devotees every year.
NSG director general NPS Aulakh, Hyderabad hub head Lt Col Sandeep Sen, State home minister P Sabita Reddy and other top officials were also present on the occasion.
Chidambaram handed over a scroll to Lt Col Sen marking the inauguration of the NSG Hyderabad hub.
‘Villagers seek Maoist help’
;Statesman News Service
BARIPADA, 2 JULY: Telenga Ho and Kuju Ho, the two Maoist leaders who were arrested from Jenabila and Yamunagard villages yesterday evening, have reportedly admitted that some of the villagers inside the core area of Simlipal Tiger Reserve had contacted them saying they needed their “help” against the government decision to evict them from the forest.
The duo was arrested from Jenabila and Yamunagard villages in the forest core area, about 75 km from Jasipur police station. They were produced in a Karanjia court today.
Police sources said the duo has admitted to their role in the attack on the forest beat houses and guest houses, as well as in assaulting some tourists in the tiger reserve area in March. About 100 cadres have stormed these places and ransacked the government establishments. They had also allegedly hurled bombs in the forest area.
The duo, against whom at least four cases have been registered in Mayurbhanj, while three have been registered in Keonjhar district, have reportedly claimed that they were invited by the villagers to help fight against the government’s proposed eviction drive.
Sources said the administration had issued eviction notices to the villagers of four areas ~ Jenabila, Kabatghai, Bakua and Yamuna - in the core area of Simlipal National Park. As some of the villagers had solicited their help, the Maoists had also found an opportunity to strengthen their network in the dense forest, sources said.
The ultras had chalked out the forest attack plan about nine months ago and as the first step had strengthened their public contact and network, police sources said. The rebels had started provoking the villagers citing the lack of basic amenities like road connectivity and health services in their area.
Administration sources claimed that the eviction notice was issued as per government norms. They assured that the oustees would be rehabilitated and given due compensation.
However, they conceded that some of the villagers had been demanding a higher package for rehabilitation, and that it was possible that a few of them had contacted the Maoists to fight for their case. While 20 families of Jenabila and Kabatghai villages have been shifted, roughly 20 families of Kabatghai, 30 families of Bakua and 10 families of Yamuna village are reluctant to move off their habitation, official sources said.
BARIPADA, 2 JULY: Telenga Ho and Kuju Ho, the two Maoist leaders who were arrested from Jenabila and Yamunagard villages yesterday evening, have reportedly admitted that some of the villagers inside the core area of Simlipal Tiger Reserve had contacted them saying they needed their “help” against the government decision to evict them from the forest.
The duo was arrested from Jenabila and Yamunagard villages in the forest core area, about 75 km from Jasipur police station. They were produced in a Karanjia court today.
Police sources said the duo has admitted to their role in the attack on the forest beat houses and guest houses, as well as in assaulting some tourists in the tiger reserve area in March. About 100 cadres have stormed these places and ransacked the government establishments. They had also allegedly hurled bombs in the forest area.
The duo, against whom at least four cases have been registered in Mayurbhanj, while three have been registered in Keonjhar district, have reportedly claimed that they were invited by the villagers to help fight against the government’s proposed eviction drive.
Sources said the administration had issued eviction notices to the villagers of four areas ~ Jenabila, Kabatghai, Bakua and Yamuna - in the core area of Simlipal National Park. As some of the villagers had solicited their help, the Maoists had also found an opportunity to strengthen their network in the dense forest, sources said.
The ultras had chalked out the forest attack plan about nine months ago and as the first step had strengthened their public contact and network, police sources said. The rebels had started provoking the villagers citing the lack of basic amenities like road connectivity and health services in their area.
Administration sources claimed that the eviction notice was issued as per government norms. They assured that the oustees would be rehabilitated and given due compensation.
However, they conceded that some of the villagers had been demanding a higher package for rehabilitation, and that it was possible that a few of them had contacted the Maoists to fight for their case. While 20 families of Jenabila and Kabatghai villages have been shifted, roughly 20 families of Kabatghai, 30 families of Bakua and 10 families of Yamuna village are reluctant to move off their habitation, official sources said.
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