This Blog monitors all terror activities of Indian Naxals ie., PWG (Peoples War Group) and Government policies to tackle naxal menace . PWG's current goal is to destablize India and Sub-Continent by a well coordinated strategy with the help of international revolutionaries and covert support from Pakistan and China .
By Amiya Meethal| Express News Service |Published: 24th July 2020 12:21 PM
Kunnel Krishnan
KOZHIKODE: Kunnel Krishnan of Wayanad is an indelible name in the history of the Naxalite movement in Kerala. He was the first accused in the Madathil Mathai murder case and the second accused in the Kayanna police station attack case, besides being a key accused in the case relating to the attack and extortion of valuables of the erstwhile feudal lord, Chundappan Nair, of Mananthavady.
Now, when quarantine, and isolation are common words due to COVID-19 pandemic, 80-year-old Krishnan reminisces his 'quarantine' period -- which saved his life -- 44 years ago under police custody.
He was the Wayanad district secretary of the Central Reorganisation Committee CPI-ML then. The police took Krishnan into custody a month after the Kayanna police station attack took place on February 28, 1976. He was taken to the Kakkayam police camp, which gained notoriety due to the torturous methods of Crime Branch DIG Jayaram Padikkal.
"I was brought into the Kakkayam camp two days after the death of Kozhikode Regional Engineering College (REC) student P Rajan. Jayaram Padikkal was not there. He came on the second day and asked why I was being allowed to stand, which indirectly meant I should be subjected to brutality so that I am unable to stand," he told TNIE.
M M Somasekharan, Murali Kannampally, C H Achuthan, Sugathan, Bhargavan and medical student Vasu were among the others taken to the camp during the same period. For three days, Krishnan was brutalised.
"The cruel method called 'uruttal' was the most dreaded one. We can withstand it on the first day. On the second day, it is like tearing off flesh from thighs and legs. On the third day, the skin gets imprinted on the rolling instrument (long wooden rod) used for 'uruttal'," he said.
Yet, Krishnan said, he did not utter a single word about his party activities to the police. Before further torture, blessing came in the form of measles and the police put him in an isolated room -- into quarantine. The quarantine room
"I was like a rotten sack then. Unable to stand on two feet. Even in that condition, we were chained," Krishnan recalled. No policeman came near him out of fear of disease transmission.
"A doctor from Vadakara, Dr Kunjabdulla, came and gave me some medicine. Policemen put neem leaves on the floor of my cell and asked me to sleep on them," he reminisced.
Krishnan escaped from police torture for about 15 days, thanks to measles. "If not for measles, I would have died. There was no proper food either. Only a cup of tea and snacks were provided in a day. When a newly-posted cop felt sympathy, some additional food and drinking water was provided. I also had fever," he said.
After a month in the Kakkayam camp, he was shifted to the Malurkunnu camp and was subsequently let off by the court citing lack of evidence in the case.
'Achuthan developed measles first'
M M Somasekharan, the first accused in the Kayanna case and lodged in the Kakkayam camp almost at the same time as Kunnel Krishnan, said that measles first infected Achuthan. "It might have transmitted to Krishnan," Somasekharan said.
Currently living with his family at Valad near Mananthavady, Krishnan said the after-effects of police torture continues to bother him.
"When my grandson sits on my thighs, it still pains," he said
While 15 DRG personnel were injured, the bodies of 17 killed were retrieved a day later. All those killed belonged to Bastar and Sukma, and the encounter was seen as a severe setback for the DRG, which comprises mostly tribals and surrendered Maoists.
Baghel told The Indian Express that he had raised the issue with the central government and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Nearly five months after 17 Chhattisgarh Police personnel were killedin an ambush by Maoists in Sukma, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has accused the Centre of “lack of coordination” during the incident and claimed that CRPF personnel were present “500 m from the spot” but did not engage because “they didn’t receive orders”.
Baghel told The Indian Express that he had raised the issue with the central government and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
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“Both teams of CRPF and DRG (District Reserve Guard) had gone on the operation together. The CRPF personnel were 500m away from the encounter spot. They didn’t receive orders to march and they stayed put, without engaging. Eventually, our 17 men died in the incident. If they had got the (CRPF) support… the Naxal casualty would have been higher.”
According to police, at least five Maoists, from the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), were killed in the incident. “I have raised this issue in front of the government, even the Home Minister, that lack of coordination led to this incident and that is regretful,” said Baghel who heads the Congress government in the state.
When contacted, CRPF IG Prakash D, who took charge a few days after the attack, said: “There is no complaint of lack of coordination. In fact, we have a smooth experience with the Chhattisgarh government. The incident was before my tenure, so I can’t comment on it, but we have had no complaints. If the issue was raised, I am not aware of it,” he said.
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G H P Raju, the former CRPF IG who completed his tenure with the force the day after the attack, declined to comment. However, a senior officer said that a high-level inquiry was instituted under the then Special DG Kuldiep Singh. Singh declined to comment.
Chhattisgarh DGP Durgesh Awasthi, too, declined to comment on the issue. Since Baghel took charge in December 2018, more than 45 security personnel have been killed in attacks by Maoists till July-end 2020. During this period, at least 43 Maoists were reported killed in state operations.
Baghel said the Covid outbreak has hampered operations against Maoists. “So many of our personnel are infected or in quarantine. The police had to work during the pandemic to maintain law and order. They even managed to man the state borders when the lockdown was open,” he said.
Referring to the March attack, Baghel claimed that more Maoists had died than officially declared earlier. Several funerals were held in the jungles of Bijapur, Dantewada and Sukma, he said.
On March 21, a joint team of the DRG, which is the state’s frontier anti-Maoist force, the Special Task Force, and elite CoBRA personnel, from Chintagufa, Burkapal and Timelwada, moved to Elmagunda following a tip-off.
According to police, the team didn’t find Maoists at the area but were ambushed on the way back. “There were two CRPF teams and both didn’t fire enough or intervene. When our injured personnel came back, we were told about this and we raised the issue at senior levels,” said a senior officer, speaking on condition of anonymity.
While 15 DRG personnel were injured, the bodies of 17 killed were retrieved a day later. All those killed belonged to Bastar and Sukma, and the encounter was seen as a severe setback for the DRG, which comprises mostly tribals and surrendered Maoists.
On May 26, the Maoists released a video purportedly of 14 weapons and a large quantity of ammunition allegedly seized from security personnel, and clips of the attack.
In 2017, following a similar attack in Sukma’s Burkapal, where 25 CRPF personnel were killed, The Indian Express had reported that the then CRPF DIG had raised a complaint of “lack of coordination” with the state government and referred to the “terribly slow pace of road construction”. The CRPF personnel were killed while trying to secure an under-construction road in south Sukma
Superintendent of Police Adnan Nayeem Asmi producing surrendered Maoists before media in Kakinada on Thursday
Kakinada: As many as two Dalam members of Azad Protection Team and Charla (Local Organisation Squad) Maoist party have surrendered before Superintendent of Police Adnan Nayeem Asmi here on Thursday.
They belong to Guthikoya community (ST) residents of Yatapaka, Chinturu Madals of Chinturu Sub-division in East Godavari district.
Kovvasi Sunitha, is a resident of Salibudepa village of Yetapaka mandal of East Godavari district. She was recruited in December 2019 by Geetha (Area Committee member) Commander of Sabari LoS. She worked in Azad (state committee member) Protection Team (Azad Guard). She used to carry 12 bore weapons. Kaluma Manoj is a resident of Allivagu, Egugurallapalli village, Chinturu mandal.
He joined in Dalam in December 2019 and recruited by Geetha (Area Committee members) Commander of Sabari LoS. He worked in Sabari LOS as Guard to Sharada. He used to carry to 12 bore weapon. Speaking to media here on Thursday, SP Asmi said that the surrendered were vexed with hollow ideology of CPI Maoist party and surrendered to lead a normal life. Asmi said that the surrendered were attracted towards developmental activities taken by the government in their area and decided to surrender and to lead a normal life. Both surrendered cadres are provided with Rs 5,000 each, 25 kgs rice, oil and other groceries, two pairs of clothes, blankets and umbrellas by the SP.
Additional SP K Kumar, SB DSPs M Ambika Prasad, S Murali Mohan , Chinturu SI Yuva Kumar and others were present
on Thursday. The two former Maoists— Kovvasi Sunitha (alias Reshmi) and Kaluma Manoj (alias Anil) — belong to the Guthikoya community. They said that they had faced discrimination in the hands of non-adivasi leaders of CPI(Maoist). tnn
The incident took place in Koti village under Bhamaragadh taluka of the Naxal-hit district.
Representational image
Photo Credit: ANI
Nagpur: A constable was killed and his colleague injured in a Naxal attack in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra on Friday morning, police said.
A police official said as per preliminary information, the incident took place in Koti village under Bhamaragadh taluka of the Naxal-hit district, around 170km from here in eastern Maharashtra.
The two constables had gone to a shop, where they were attacked by an "action team" of Naxals, he said.
"One of the constables was martyred, while the other got injured in the incident," he said. The slain constable was identified as Dushyant Nandeshwar and his injured colleague as Vinod Bhosle, the official said
Sukma (Chhattisgarh) [India], August 13 (ANI): After neutralising four Naxals in an encounter in Sukma, the Chhattisgarh Police released a video of security personnel crossing a stream carrying bikes with them on Wednesday night. Four Naxals were killed in an exchange of fire with personnel of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, the police said. The gun-battle between the security personnel and the Naxals took place in the forest area of Jagargunda in the district. "Four Naxals killed in an exchange of fire during a joint operation by the DRG, 201 battalion CoBRA, and 223 battalion CRPF in the forest area of Jagargunda, Sukma district on Wednesday. Weapons were seized from the spot," IG Bastar P Sundarraj said. (ANI)
సాయిబాబా ముందు మనిషి. ఆ తర్వాత విశ్వాసాల కారణంగా ఖైదీ. రాజకీయ పరిభాషలో రాజకీయ ఖైదీ. ఆ తర్వాతే వికలాంగుడు. ముందుగా మనిషికి హక్కులుంటాయి. గుర్తించండి. వాటినే మానవహక్కులు అంటున్నాం. కాపాడండి. ఆ హక్కుల కోసమే దేశదేశాల ఆలోచనాపరులు గొంతుకలుపుతున్నారు. విజ్ఞాపనలు వినండి. కోర్టుల్ని స్వతంత్రంగా వుండనివ్వండి.
నేను ఈ దేశ పౌరుణ్ణి!
నా దేశం గురించి నేను రాస్తాను. మాట్లాడతాను. పాట పాడుతాను. ఎందుకంటే యిది నా దేశం. నేను ఈ దేశ పౌరుణ్ణి!
నా దేశాన్ని కీర్తించే హక్కు నా పాలకుల్ని మెచ్చే హక్కు నిందించే హక్కు నాకుగాక యింకెవరికి వుంటుంది? - అని నమ్మి నడిచిన సాయిబాబా దేశం గురించి మాట్లాడడం దేశద్రోహమయిపోయింది.
ఢిల్లీ యూనివర్సిటీలో... అదీ తను పనిచేస్తున్న యూనివర్సిటీలో రిజర్వేషన్లు అమలు చెయ్యమని రాజ్యాంగబద్ధమైన హక్కుతో కోరడం నేరమైపోయింది. యూజీసీకి పిర్యాదు చేయడం మరీ పెద్ద నేరమైపోయింది. రిజిస్ట్రార్ని రీకాల్ చెయ్యడం పెద్దలకు మహా అవమానమయిపోయింది. రిజర్వేషన్లు తప్పనిసరిగా అమలు చేయాల్సిరావడం మరీ అన్యాయమైపోయింది. అంతేనా?, నోరులేని ఆదివాసీలకు మద్దతుగా గ్రీన్ హంట్కు వ్యతిరేకంగా గొంతువిప్పడం దేశద్రోహమయిపోయింది. కార్పొరేట్ వ్యాపారులు వెనక్కి తగ్గడం దేశవిదేశాల్లో దేశానికి అవమానం అయిపోయింది. అందుకనే సాయిబాబాపై కక్ష గట్టింది. ఖైదుని చేసింది. అండా సెల్లో పెట్టింది.
తెలిసిన కథకైనా తెలియని నేపథ్యం వొకటి వుండాలి. అప్పుడే కథ రక్తి కడుతుంది. రంజింపజేసే చట్టబద్ధత వస్తుంది. మహారాష్ట్ర గడ్చిరోలి జిల్లా అహేరి పోలీస్టేషన్ పరిధిలో దొంగతనం జరిగింది. అక్కడ దొంగలించిన సామాన్లు యిక్కడ సాయిబాబా వాళ్ళ యింట్లో బయటపడ్డాయి. సెర్చ్ వారెంటుతో వచ్చారు. ఇంటిని దోపిడి చేశారు. సొంత సరంజామా సాక్ష్యంగా పెట్టారు.
సాయిబాబాని కిడ్నాప్ కూడా చేశారు.
ఎందుకంటే- ‘సత్యమేవజయతే’ మన నినాదం!
అండా సెల్లో బంధించడం హింస కాదు. ఆసరా లేనిదే దైనందిన జీవితం గడవని మనిషిని వొంటరిని చేయడం హింస కాదు. అనారోగ్య పరిస్థితుల్లోనూ కనీస వైద్య సౌకర్యాలు అందించకపోవడం హింస కాదు. మిగిలిన ఖైదీలతో మాట్లాడనివ్వకపోవడమూ హింస కాదు. ప్రశ్నించిన మనిషిని నేరస్థుణ్ణి అంతకన్నా యెక్కువ దేశద్రోహిని చేస్తే వాళ్ళ భార్యా పిల్లలూ తల్లీ కుటుంబమూ సంబంధాలూ తెగి యీ సంఘంలో యెలాంటి స్థితిని యెదుర్కొన్నా అది హింస కానే కాదు.
ఎందుకంటే- ‘అహింస పరమో ధర్మః’ మన నినాదం!
ఏ దేశమైనా అది మిగతా దేశాలతో యెలా వ్యవహరిస్తోందనే దానికన్నా ఆ దేశంలోని ప్రజలతో- ముఖ్యంగా హక్కులకోసం నిలబడ్డ ప్రజాస్వామిక వాదులతో యెలా ప్రవర్తిస్తోందన్నదే ఆ దేశం యెలాంటిదన్నది నిర్ణయిస్తుంది. ఏ దేశంలోనైనా చట్టాలు ముఖ్యంగా కొత్తగా తెస్తున్న చట్టాలు ఆ దేశ పాలకుల గుణాన్ని దేశ భవిష్యత్తుని బైట పెడతాయి.
కుక్కర్ విజిల్కే గక్కురుమంటున్నారే? విజిల్ ని సీల్ చేస్తున్నారే? కుక్కర్ యేమవుతుంది? మీరు కోరుకున్న నిశ్శబ్దం మీకు సిద్ధిస్తుందా?
సాయిబాబా ముందు మనిషి. ఆ తర్వాత విశ్వాసాల కారణంగా ఖైదీ. రాజకీయ పరిభాషలో రాజకీయ ఖైదీ. ఆ తర్వాతే వికలాంగుడు. ముందుగా మనిషికి హక్కులుంటాయి. గుర్తించండి. వాటినే మానవహక్కులు అంటున్నాం. కాపాడండి. ఆ హక్కుల కోసమే దేశదేశాల ఆలోచనాపరులు గొంతు కలుపుతున్నారు. విజ్ఞాపనలు వినండి. కోర్టుల్ని స్వతంత్రంగా వుండనివ్వండి.
మరోపక్క వాళ్ళ వాళ్ళ విశ్వాసాల కారణంగానే యెందరో ప్రాణాలు తీసిన హంతకులు బెయిల్లమీద బయట తిరుగుతున్నారు. నిర్దోషులుగా బయటపడుతున్నారు. పాలనలోనూ భాగమవుతున్నారు. అధికారాన్ని అనుభవిస్తున్నారు. ఇటుపక్క సాయిబాబా, వీవీ లాంటి మరెందరో జైళ్ళలో మగ్గుతున్నారు.
ఎందుకంటే- ‘ఎవరి విశ్వాసాలను వాళ్ళు కలిగివుండవచ్చు’
అన్నది మన నినాదం!
రాజ్యాంగం ముందు ప్రజలందరూ సమానమేనని చెప్పిన నేరానికి ప్రజాస్వామ్యం బోనెక్కింది. ఇది దేశానికి గౌరవం కాదు. మన భారతదేశం పేరు మంటగలపకండి.
సాయిబాబా విడుదల కోరుతూ ప్రపంచవ్యాప్త విజ్ఞప్తులతో వచ్చిన ‘ఎకో ఆఫ్ ఫ్రీడమ్’ బుక్ రిలీజు రోజునే సాయిబాబా తల్లి సూర్యవతమ్మ చనిపోయారు. తల్లిని చూడాలని సాయిబాబా చేసుకున్న వినతులు వినేవాళ్ళు లేకపోయారు. కొడుకుని చూడాలని కడదాకా కుమిలిన ఆ తల్లి ఆ కోరిక తీరకుండానే వెళ్ళిపోయారు. ఆ తల్లి నాలుగున్నరేళ్ళ క్రితం అన్న మాటలు మాత్రం యిప్పుడూ వినిపిస్తున్నాయి. ‘‘నాకు హిందీ రాదు, వొస్తే- ‘మోదీ... నా కొడుకు గోకరకొండ నాగ సాయిబాబా చేసిన తప్పేమిటి?’ అని అడగాలని వుంది’’
ఆ తల్లి అడిగిన ప్రశ్నకు సమాధానం దొరక్కుండానే కానరాని లోకాలకు వెళ్ళిపోయింది. సాయిబాబా యింకా జైల్లోనే వున్నాడు.
కరోనా దూరం నుండయినా చూడనిస్తుంది. కర్కశ రాజ్యానికి కరోనా పాటి జాలీదయా లేవు!
A phone call from police to Mangal Kunjam, informing him that he was on the Maoists' hit list, led to a chain of events he was no stranger to.
7 hours ago | Sukanya Shantha
Journalist Mangal Kunjam. Photo: By special arrangement.
Mumbai: Around three weeks ago, 28-year-old Mangal Kunjam received a phone call from the local Kirandol police station in Dantewada, informing him that he is on the Maoists’ “hit list”.
For a reporter belonging to an Adivasi community and living in the conflict-stricken Bastar region, threat to life is not particularly new. But what felt strange, Kunjam says, is that soon afterwards, the banned Communist Party of India (Maoists) purportedly issued a letter claiming that he had never been on their hit list and that it is was, in fact, the state’s “conspiracy” to stop him and others like him from working freely in the region.
Kunjam had received the call from D.K. Barua, a police inspector attached to Kirandul police station. Kunjam says Barua had informed him about a specific “intelligence input” claiming that the Maoists were looking for him and have been plotting to eliminate him. The reason behind their plans to find him were not known, the police official had told Kunjam.
“I was concerned as to how and why I became their (the Maoists’) target. But the police said no information was known,” he said. The Wire called up Barua and he confirmed that a call was indeed made and that they had received “specific inputs” about the threat to Kunjam’s life.
Since the phone call, Kunjam has had to curtail his movement and one or more reporters have always offered to accompany him when he has set out for reporting work.
“It is not easy to be a journalist in Bastar region,” Kunjam says. “More so when you are an Adivasi journalist,” he adds.
“You are looked at with suspicion by both the Maoists and the state. Your work is never looked at as independent of your identity and either way, you get branded as an ‘agent’ of both police and Maoists,”
The Darbha Division Committee of the CPI (Maoists) have denied the police allegations and in the handwritten press note issued early this month, the banned party has claimed that Kunjam was never in their list. “What do we benefit from killing a journalist like Kunjam?” the letter asks, further claiming that the police have intentionally stirred controversy in the region to pressurise and keep a close track on journalist movements.
Letter issued by the Darbha Division Committee of CPI (Maoist).
Although the CPI (Maoists) have denied responsibility in Kunjam’s case, local journalists claim that at least 40 surrendered persons, especially those belonging to the party’s Sangam or cultural group in the past have been warned of dire consequences.
So, what could have possibly put Kunjam in such a precarious spot? Kunjam says, it is a combination of both—his activism and critical reporting on corporate projects in the region.
Kunjam reports for a Raipur-based newspaper Tarun Chhattisgarh. Along with his reporting, Kunjam and other community leaders have been agitating against the iron ore mining project in Dantewada’s Bailadila hills for the past several years. Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) had been given the contract to develop the mine in 2018 by NCL, a joint venture of National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) and Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC). The agitation began when BJP-led Raman Singh government was in power and has intensified in the years after the Congress was elected to power in the state.
In June last year, following the villagers’ strong protests, Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel ordered a sudden stop to all work related to iron ore mining in the area. But that protest did not sit well with the government and the mining company, Kunjam alleges.
He says that around July last year, he was informed by his police sources that plans were made to have him arrested in connection with the May, 2019 attack on a state police vehicle, which was allegedly plotted by Maoists. Seven state police personnel were killed in that improvised explosive device (IED) attack.
“After every attack, the police arrest local Adivasi youths en masse. In at least 85% of the cases, these arrests are baseless and are meant to only settle a personal score. So, when I was informed I could be picked up next, I took the warning seriously,” Kunjam says. Kunjam had to go underground for a few months before other journalists in the district found out what had been happening and decided to intervene.
During the BJP’s rule, arrests of journalists was a common occurrence. Chhattisgarh police, particularly in Bastar, would arrest and hound journalists who worked to expose police excess in the name of anti-Maoist operations. “The situation may have changed a bit since the Congress government came into power but the fear of being wrongly implicated in criminal cases still lingers,” Kunjam says.
So does the intimidation and threats from Maoists. Along with Kunjam, another Zilla Parishad (ZP) member was also informed about the possible threat. Barua confirmed that he had made a similar call to the ZP member too.
“The moment we are informed about any possible attack, we reach out to people. In the recent cases both Kunjam and the ZP member are active in their respective villages and are used to venturing into the deep woods for their work. It is important that they know that there is a potent threat to their lives,” Barua adds.
In July, this year, one NMDC Kirandul project employee Mithhu Markam was allegedly killed by the Dokapara rebels. Markam was called in to the Jan Adalat, a public court set up by the Maoists and killed after he was held “guilty” of being a police informer. A senior police officer said that Markam was not in contact with them and he was killed on the basis of baseless charges levelled by the Maoists. Barua added that had they had any intelligence input on Markam, they would have tried to save him too. “He did not come to us. We would have found ways to save him,” Barua claims.
Stories of both wrongful arrests or Maoist attacks are very common in the villages of South Chhattisgarh. Kunjam says the profiles of those being targeted are very clear. “Both police and Maoists are focussing on our educated and assertive youths, who believe in the Constitution of India,” he adds
Eluru (Andhra Pradesh) [India], Aug 12 (ANI): After a Scheduled Caste (SC) youth from the East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, who was allegedly beaten up and tonsured in a police station, wrote a letter to the President seeking permission to join Naxals saying he did not get justice, Eluru range deputy inspector general (DIG) called the move "unfortunate" on Tuesday. DIG Mohan Rao held a press conference in the Eluru police station explaining all such measures that were taken in Vara Prasad's case and said that his seeking permission from the President to join the banned outfit because he did not get justice is 'unfortunate'. "A sub-inspector and a constable of Sitanagaram police were immediately arrested and sent for remand, and a case under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act has been filed against them. Vada Prasad is provided security and police picket is set up in his village. Despite all such measures, Vara Prasad writing letter to President seeking permission to join Maoists, saying he did not get justice is unfortunate," the DIG said. He added that Prasad's move seems to be motivated by "political forces". "Some political forces seem to have motivated him to do so. The Maoist organization is a banned outfit. Claiming to join it and encouraging such claims are both offences, and we will take stern action on such matters. Such comments send wrong signals to the people. Anybody should not misuse the freedom of expression," DIG added. Reportedly, Vara Prasad had confronted a YSRCP leader and tried to stop his sand lorries at Muni Koodali area. Thereafter, the police called him on the pretext of enquiry into the case. Vara Prasad, who belongs to Vedullapalle village, was called to Sita Nagaram police station on July 20 for enquiry. "I enquired about the incident that took place yesterday in the Sitanagaram police station limits, in Rajahmundry Urban district range. Sitanagaram SI Shaik Feroz Shah had called on Vara Prasad for an enquiry into a case, beaten and injured him, tonsured his head and moustache," said DIG Rao in an earlier statement on July 21. The Director-General of Police had then conducted an inquiry into the incident and suspended one sub-inspector and two constables in connection with the case. A case under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act had been filed in the matter. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on July 22 had also instructed officials to take strict action against those responsible and had asked for details on the case. (ANI)
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article above are those of the authors' and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of this publishing house
Maoists have decried the police’s new rehabilitation campaign, Lon Varratu, alleging that those ‘surrendering’ are common villagers. Police says Naxals are misleading people.
Raipur: After the surrender of over 70 Naxals in Dantewada under the Chhattisgarh Police’s new rehabilitation campaign, Maoists in the state have made several allegations in a bid to decry the drive.
In a new pamphlet released Monday, the Darbha Divisional Committee of the banned group, Communist Party of India (Maoist), alleged that the Dantewada police is presenting common civilians as surrendered Maoists.
“The general public is being arrested to force them to surrender as Naxalites. Surrender has now become a business. The SP is showcasing the surrender policy in order to earn money,” committee secretary Sainath said in the pamphlet.
Several members of the group’s cadre have surrendered under the Lon Varratu campaign launched in June, according to the police.
The Naxals also sought to target one of its former members, Badal, who surrendered last year. They demanded action against Badal and other surrendered Naxals, who are the main accused in the assassination of BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
“On 9 April 2019, Bhima Madavi was assassinated in a bomb blast. The blast was carried out by the Maoists but the man who holds primary responsibility for this is a traitor named Badal. He should be punished immediately,” said the pamphlet.
The Naxals also alleged that the police is distributing mobile phones to the villagers in Dantewada district to create a network of informers.
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“Dantewada SP Dr. Abhishek Pallava and the local police are distributing mobiles to the general public, school going children, teachers, anganwadi workers and Mitanins. Along with this, free SIMs are also being provided for phone numbers,” said the pamphlet.
“By doing this, they are working to create a ‘Sukli-network’ (informant network) by enticing the common people. In a way they are entrusting the villagers with a task akin to tearing their eyes with their own fingers,” it alleged.
Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava denied all these allegations, saying the pamphlet is a direct result of the Naxals’ “frustration” as its supply network has been affected.
“Several of their key suppliers have been arrested by the police recently, due to which they are no longer getting the supplies of logistics and explosives. The Maoists want to save their suppliers,” he said.
On Badal, Pallava said, “There is no doubt that he is the main accused (in Bhima Mandavi case) but the surrender policy is formed in such a manner that the cases against those who surrender get dropped.”
Badal had surrendered along with his wife last year. This month, he also urged his Naxalite sister to surrender under the campaign on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
The investigation into the death of the slain BJP MLA is being carried out by the National Investigation Agency. According to police sources, six accused persons in the case were arrested with help of Badal’s disclosures.
All these accused were key suppliers for the Maoists, said the sources.
Pallava also denied the charge of making common villagers surrender as Naxals. “All those who have surrendered are real Maoist cadre. Naxalites also term the members of their frontal organisations as ordinary citizens. By doing this they intend to mislead the people,” he said.
He said 71 Maoists have surrendered so far under Lon Varratu, which is being run to facilitate the return of Naxalites. “Many of them carried prizes against their names,” he said.
The official also noted a change in the Naxal approach, saying the latest pamphlet is nothing like what the Maoists used to say. Earlier, they would often accuse the police of torturing people, raping women and killing anganwadi workers, among others.
“This proves that the Maoists are no longer getting any issues to target the security forces,” said Pallava.
“They are saying that the police force is providing mobile phones and SIM cards to the villagers. The Naxalites have themselves admitted that they killed their own comrades who were not collaborating in the conspiracy to stall the development works,” he said.
“Now they are giving clarification to the villagers about their actions,” he said.
In the pamphlet, the Maoists sought to clarify that the two villagers killed on 22 July in Potali village of Dantewada were police informers even as police sources said these were colleagues of Naxal commander Deva and were killed by the Maoists.
Pallava added, “They have started to ask the police to take action against the surrendered Maoists. From all this, it is clear that their stranglehold among the villagers is getting diminished
The gun-battle took place in a forest under Jagargunda police station limits around 9.30 am when joint teams of various security forces were out on an anti-Naxalites operation, inspector general of police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P said.
Acting on specific inputs about the location of Naxalites in the interior areas of Jagargunda, joint squads of different security forces, including the District Reserve Guard (DRG),
(CRPF) and its elite unit Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), launched the operation, he said.
When one of the patrolling teams was in the forest near Phulampar village, located over 450 km from state capital Raipur, an exchange of fire broke out between the two sides, the official said.
After guns fell silent, bodies of four male ultras were recovered from the spot along with a .303 rifle, huge cache of country-made weapons and explosive material, he said.
Search operation was underway in the area, he added
and M Ajay Kumar were killed in the landmine blast.Maoists party Pedabayalu and Korukonda Area Committee secretary Sudhir sent an audio press note to the media in which he said that it was the fault of the Maoists and he sincerely offered apologies to the entire village. “They are our people and our family members. We are here to protect the people. Cops are carrying out rallies and protests against Maoists party with rowdies and goons, besides paid agitators," he accused.
He said cops surrounded the PLGA forces at Landulu village area in Pedabayalu on July 19 and attacked. "We escaped from the place safely and we arranged a booby trap at Jandangi area where these youth were trapped. Cops once again attacked our squads where 25 th dagudu palli Daya was killed," he said.
We have set up booby traps in many areas and alerted the locals too. But without knowing this chintalaveedhi youth had come and trapped. Our party village committee members had consoled the bereaved families, who understood the situation. We too also became victims in a few occasions when one of our squad members was killed due to current wire arranged for the farm field. We have not shown any anger against the farmers," he said.
Naxal leader gave elaborate number of police firings against the innocent people and asked whether the cops got any punishment in these killings or in the incident of Vakapalli or any other issue. Now, the cops are trying to corner the naxals with the booby trap issue. Cops are trying to put blame on naxals and trying to provoke the people to create rift between Maoist party and people. He warned that the persons, who are behaving anti-people and anti-revolution, will get punishment in Praja Court
Wednesday, 12 August 2020 | Staff Reporter | KANKER
A Naxalite was killed in a gun battle between security forces and Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district, police said on Tuesday.
Guns, live bullets and other items of daily use were seized from the encounter spot, a senior police official said.
“We had launched an inter-district counter insurgency operation on the borders of Kanker and Kondagaon districts in which different teams of BSF, DRG (District Reserve Group), STF (Special Task Force) and police from seven stations were deployed,” Inspector General of Police (Bastar) Sundarraj P told The Pioneer over phone.
On Monday evening, a joint team of DRG and STF (Bravo 8) had a face-off with armed Maoists in the jungle of Sindurmeta in the Kanker police station area, about 150 km from Raipur, the officer said.
Seeing the police force, the Maoists opened fire. The police retaliated. After intermittent firing, the Maoists slipped into the jungle. Later, during a search of the area, police found the body of a male Maoist clad in Naxalite uniform.
While searching the area, police also found a .303 rifle, a 315 rifle, solar plates, radio, battery charger, wire, pressure cooker, IEDs, Naxalite literature, medicines and other items of daily use in huge quantity.
The identity of dead Maoist is yet to be ascertained, the officer said
By Ejaz Kaiser| Express News Service |Published: 11th August 2020 12:38 PM
A deep crater-like structure formed on the NH-16 in Bastar after the IED blast triggered by Maoists.
RAIPUR: The ammonium nitrate that resulted into catastrophic blast in Lebanon, is often used by the outlawed CPI (Maoist) in Chhattisgarh to detonate Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that continues as a big challenge for security forces deployed in the conflict zone for the past two decades.
Seventy-six personnel were massacred by Maoists in April 2010, 29 Congressmen died in ambush in May 2013, Doordarshan cameraman killed in 2018, BJP MLA died in IED planted by the rebels in 2019 ahead of Lok Sabha polls.
Similar such incidents are indicative of extensive use of IED explosions by ultras turning the strife-torn Bastar on edge in south Chhattisgarh. Blowing up of the IEDs are almost always followed by exchange of fire with the forces leading to causalities.
The law enforcing agencies affirmed that despite the Maoist-related incidents now on a declining trend, the strenuous challenge and task to effectively counter IED threats persist in any operation.
The problem becomes exacerbated in the virtual war zone of Bastar, south Chhattisgarh, where the Maoist Brigade remains most active, waging the battle against the forces and state for the past three decades.
"Ammonium Nitrate is most commonly used explosive material in IED's by Maoists. IED remains one of the main challenges the security forces encounter while countering the left wing extremists in Bastar region. We not only lost hundreds of our brave soldiers but many innocent civilians including women, children and even cattle were killed in the IED explosions," said Sunderraj P, inspector general of police (Bastar zone).
Every year on an average there are over 60 incidents of IED explosions in Bastar. "Since 2016 till date, we have recovered 1268 IED's that were defused safely," the IG added.
Maoists in the past succeeded in getting hold of ammonium nitrate in big ways. In 2010 they looted around 16 tonnes of it from a truck which was on its way from Visakhapatnam to Chhattisgarh. Again in 2013 the rebels intercepted the chemical-laden lorry proceeding tor a industrial plant in Raipur from Vishakhapatnam. Similar incidents then led to strong apprehensions about the stolen explosives might be used by the outlawed to trigger landmine blasts.
Chhattisgarh state consequently evolved a strong mechanism to prevent any kind of pilferage of explosive materials. Stern action are being taken against those found in illegal possession, transports or using the explosive materials, Sunderraj stated.
The Centre’s notification issued in 2011 cited ammonium nitrate, if in any combination containing more than 45 per cent of it by weight, including emulsions, suspensions, melts or gels shall be deemed to be an explosive under the Explosive Act 1884.
“IED is the easiest weapon for Maoists who always look for soft options to target," asserted Brigadier (retired) B K Ponwar, a jungle warfare expert.
Ever since the Chhattisgarh carved out as a separate state in November 2000, there has been over 1100 IED blasts in the districts worst affected by the presence of left-wing extremism. The powerful detonation of these IEDs claimed the lives of hundreds of security personnel besides the civilians too. (See Table).
The IEDs recovered recovered doubled during the span of last decade — from 938 detected during 2001—2010 to a total of 1918 traced from 2011 till June 2020.
Raipur, Aug 10 (PTI) A Naxal was gunned down by security forces on Monday in the forest along the border of Kondagaon-Kanker districts in Chhattisgarh, an official said.
A gunfight took place with the ultras at around 5 pm in the jungles near Sendurmeta village when District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) personnel were out on an operation, Inspector General of Police (Bastar) Sundarraj P told PTI.
The spot of the encounter is some 150 kilometres from the state capital Raipur.
"After the encounter, we found the body of a male Naxal along with a .303 rifle and other materials. The search operation is continuing at the spot," he added. PTI TKP BNM BNM
Two of the world’s largest democracies seem to tag anyone who has a contrarian view as Communist or, closer home, Urban Naxal.
Today, 12 civil society activists, professors, scholars are languishing in jails across India. Some of them are ailing and their plight is rather pitiable, but they are all being denied bail. They have been arrested under stringent laws, accused of waging war against the country and charged under the sedition law. Some are alleged to have made inflammatory speeches at the Elgar Parishad organised in Pune on December 31, 2017. Thereafter at Bhima-Koregaon, a historic spot in Maharashtra near Pune, visitors were attacked as they returned after paying homage. The then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis promptly blamed the ‘Urban Naxals’ for the violence but conveniently omitted to mention the roles of Manohar Bhide and Milind Ekbote, two extreme right-wing Hindu activists, who were given bail, despite their involvement. In fact, Superintendent of Police Suvaez Haq had, in his affidavit filed with the Bhima-Koregaon inquiry commission, clearly pinned the violence on January 1, 2018, as a ‘Sudden clash between two mobs’. He wrote the clashes were between two mobs, ‘saffron and blue flags’. He did not mention Elgaar Parishad as the cause, at all. Thereafter 11 activists were arrested.
These members, alleged to belong to the Communist Party of India (Maoist), a banned outfit, were accused of having organised a forum where speeches were made with the “aim of spreading rebellious thoughts, instigating violence at Bhima-Koregaon and establishing a nationwide anti-fascist front to wage war against the government.”
Elgar Parishad organized on December 31, 2017
Hated word, Communist
The fact is, the word Communist evokes a lot of reactions in most people — for some, it is the one ideology that is non-religious, can bring about societal change and show an alternative way. But most view it with contempt, disdain and also as a conspiracy against democratically elected governments. In Maharashtra, Naxalism was as popular as in the neighbouring erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Odisha. The Red Corridor, it has been called. Many belong to the Communist Party of India and their family members joined them. A lot of the educated and intellectual class believed in it and were drawn to the ideology of bringing about change in Adivasi areas and supported the activists who are called Maoists and Naxals.
Not all of them were activists. Some went to the tribal forest areas to work while some sheltered these Naxals. The caste and religious ideologies that pervade all religions affected those on the lower rungs of society. Most continue to lead marginalised lives, be it slums or deprived rural interiors. The fact is, these areas still do not get basic amenities which we living in the urban areas take for granted – clean drinking water, doctors, health clinics, food, schools, markets and so on.
Soon, social workers began living amongst this section for longer periods of time and began equipping the poor, be it Adivasis or others. The fact is, because of the Communists, the awareness of the poor about their fundamental rights increased but at the same time, reports of violence, especially against industries and politicians who used these vote banks to come to power, began to increase. The crackdown against these civil activists began, be it the Congress government or the Bharatiya Janata Party government. The only difference is, the Congress, until it became part of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA government), had not labelled the Naxals.
It was during the UPA government that the crackdown intensified. Activists were arrested, their hideouts busted and even their supporters were threatened. Officials began snooping on all those connected, first tried to threaten the villagers who lived in the red belt and later, began giving them monetary awards to win them over. The then Home Minister P Chidambaram consistently harped on attacking Naxal bases and on October 7, 2009, went on to say their government had contemplated the use of air power against Maoists. The then Air Chief, P V Naik said, “The rules of engagement in such situation will be stringent.” In fact, Dr Manmohan Singh had said on May 24, “Naxalism remains the biggest internal security challenge and it is imperative to control Left-wing extremism for the country’s growth.”
But it is no surprise that since the BJP first came to power in 2014, it has been harsh on Naxal activists. When they were arrested, the BJP foolishly claimed police had found a letter in the house of the arrested poet, Varavara Rao, with details of a plot to assassinate Modi. If anyone knows how Maoists or Naxals function, they would firstly know about the great wall of secrecy. Secondly, they don’t leave paper trails and are definitely not so amateur as to put down the details of their operations in such a manner. Police went on to arrest the others, including Gautam Navlakha, Professor Sudha and most recently, Anand Teltumbde, the grandson-in-law of the late Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Teltumbde had gone so far as to condemn the violence on January 1, 2018, due to the protest and bandh called by his brother-in-law, Prakash Ambedkar.
Left activists arrested in connection with Bhima Koregaon- Elgar Parishad case
Red scare in American politics
The American Democratic Party has a history with the Left. The Left-wing of this party split in 1948 from the main body, as the US opposed the Soviet Union in World War II. The party refused to impose socialist economic planning. Many have called for the Democratic Party to confront their past and the revolutionaries in their ranks.
Revolution, trade unions and communism are all taboos in American politics, as well as in their society, after the civil war (1861—1865). In fact, when black workers went on strike in Chicago, on May 1, 1886, they became part of what came to be known as the Haymarket affair. That May day, Chicago, with other cities, was the site of a major union demonstration in support of an eight-hour workday. In many countries, International Labour Day is celebrated on May 1. But it is not so in the US. After the Russian Revolution, unfortunately, May 1 was mistakenly associated with communism. So in protest, Americans celebrated it as Law Day.
For their particular contempt to communist fervour, President Eisenhower signed a resolution named May 1 “Loyalty Day” in July 1958.
The opponent is always suspected and however mature a democracy, no government wants to be seen as being mild to them. Worse, be it in the United States of America or India, activists and critics are always labelled as ‘Communists’. In fact, communist-appeasers have found themselves blacklisted. In February 1950, US senator Joseph McCarthy, from whose name was coined the term McCatharthyism, had claimed nearly 200-odd Communists had ‘infiltrated the state department’, which created a huge furore. However, at the time of testifying, McCarthy failed to provide any evidence, not even the name of even one ‘card-carrying Communist’ (as they were called) in any department. But he definitely proceeded to instigate a nationwide witch-hunt and in the eyes of his supporters, appeared to be a dedicated patriot and guardian of Americanism.
Later, a black diary of names of famous writers, filmmakers, producers, directors, musicians and actors was created. Those known to be close to, or perceived as appeasers of Communists, were blacklisted. They were not given credit, often could not find jobs, not paid enough money and this McCarthyism continued even after the time of President John F Kennedy. Famous Hollywood names like Charlie Chaplin, Adrian Scott, attorney Ben Myers, accountant Bernard Reis, television director Coby Ruskin, artist Laurie Blankfort and playwright Arthur Miller (who was married to actor Marylin Monroe for five years), singer Harry Belafonte and writer Dorothy Parker were all officially blacklisted.
The fact is: American politicians are as scared of mouthing the word Communism as Indian politicians are. In fact, it was during my Master’s in Social Work in the early 90s that I first heard the name of Saul Alinsky, an American community activist, who was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. He wrote a few books, the most popular one being ‘Rules for Radicals’. He worked in the industrial areas in and around Chicago and helped poor communities organise to press demands on landlords, politicians and business leaders. In fact, he influenced a young Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, with the latter’s senior thesis at Wellesley being titled: There Is Only the Fight: An Analysis of the Alinsky Model. She spoke to Alinsky while working on the thesis. According to the David Horowitz Freedom Center, Alinsky never identified as Socialist or Communist but was a self-professed radical, and a man of the left. The fact is, both Obama and Clinton seriously engaged with Alinsky’s ideas and Clinton knew him personally, and obviously, this connect is made with an American political tradition to the left of mainline Democratic liberalism. This Democratic Party liberalism is the course the conservatives detest and blame for all the current protests in America.
In fact, even during the recent Black Lives Matter protests, US President Donald Trump said in an interview with Fox News that military-style federal assault squads were dispatched to Portland and other cities. He said the violence was on the increase in Democrat-run cities. “They are liberally run, they are stupidly run,” He claimed. However, an article in The Guardian said, Trump, warning about far-left-fascism, has made it the central part of his re-election campaign. But in truth, ‘the database of nearly 900 politically motivated attacks shows left-wing attacks have left far fewer people dead than violence by right-wing extremists. New data indicates Antifa activists have not been linked to a single murder in decades’.
Antifa protesters during ‘Black Lives Matter’ protest in the US
In India too the violence by the members of the extreme right-wing Hindu outfits has been ignored. Take the example of Bhide, Ekbote or even Pragya Singh Thakur, the main accused in 2008 Malegaon blast case, who has even been charged under UAPA, is out on bail and got elected as a Member of Parliament. Be it the lynching cases or recent violent attacks on students from JNU by Hindu groups. Violence by extreme right fascists in India has been shielded by all political parties, moreover by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Neeta Kolhatkar is a senior journalist with over 30 years of work experience across different media platforms. She is currently a freelancer and media consultant.
Umesh Chandra, IPS was bold and daring in dealing with the naxalites. He relentlessly pursued the apprehension of extremists, naxalites and other anti-social elements. He planned and led all counter-terrorist operations himself.
