Nandigram: RSP leaders meet CPI(M) counterparts
31 January, 2007
New Delhi, Jan. 31 (PTI): A review of the performance of the UPA government and the prevailing political situation today came up for discussion when the RSP leadership met their CPI(M) counterparts here.
The Central Committee of the RSP, which is meeting here, is understood to have taken a strong view on the lack of implementation of the "pro-people" promises the ruling Congress-led coalition has made in the Common Minimum Programme.
RSP sources said the party had earlier taken a hardline against the continuance of support to the UPA Government as well as on participating in the Left-UPA Coordination Committee, saying there was no point if "pro-people and pro-poor" policies were not implemented.
The top RSP leadership today met CPI(M) leaders, including General Secretary Prakash Karat, at the latter's headquarters and raised their concerns on economic issues, including on the Special Economic Zones (SEZ).
Besides their opposition to the present SEZ law and the rules governing it, the issue has also highlighted differences among the ruling Left Front partners in West Bengal particularly on Nandigram. The proposed Tata Motors plant at Singur does not fall under SEZ.
The four Left parties, supporting the Manmohan Singh Government from outside, have identified over 27 areas which they feel have not received enough attention of the Centre.
The parties are in the process of drafting specific proposals containing their suggestions and plan to hand it over to Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the first week of February.
Labels: Bengal, Nandigram, News
posted by Bimal 31.1.07,
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AP: Gaddar to march for Telangana
Hyderabad: Revolutionary balladeer and Maoist sympathiser Gaddar will lead a 400-km walkathon in Andhra Pradesh's Telangana to press for separate statehood to the region. Termed as a great cultural peace march, the 'padyatra' will begin at Manuguru in Khammam district from February 3 and conclude at Bellampalli in Adilabad district by the end of January. A large number of artists, poets, writers and students will take part in the march, the first major initiative by Gaddar and his supporters to demand a separate Telangana. The march will pass through dozens of towns and villages with Gaddar and others addressing public meetings to lobby for a separate state.
Gaddar, who survived an assassination bid on April 6, 1997 at his house in Hyderabad, has been using folk art forms for over three decades to depict the travails of peasants, labourers and other weaker sections. He had joined the movement for separate Telangana in 1969 and formed a 'burrakatha' (folk art) troupe to spread the message. More than 300 people were killed in the violent agitation for separate state. (IANS)
Labels: Andra pradesh, News
posted by Bimal 31.1.07,
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Slum dwellers to go to Singur
New Delhi, January 30: Slum dwellers from Delhi are scheduled to travel to Singur in West Bengal to participate in a play against the land acquisition by the West Bengal Government. The slum dwellers are part of the Delhi Shramik Sangathan, a member organisation of the Federation of Theatre of the Oppressed.
“The federation is a collective of cultural groups and people’s organisations from 12 states and involves people affected by eviction,” says Ramendra from the Delhi Shramik Sangathan.
“The oppressed bring forth their problems by means of theatre to mobilise people,” says Sanjoy Ganguly from Jana Sanskriti. Ganguly adds, “development taking place by way of eviction is not development, it is displacement and we want to fight this trend with the means of theatre.”
“Ever since the relocation of slum dwellers they have faced several problems, including a corrupt public distribution system, because of which subsidised ration was being black-marketed. Yet when the slum dwellers turned artists and staged plays on the issue, it mobilised the entire population. It forced the administration to introduce a norm by which a committee was constituted by the Food Supply Officer comprising of people from the slum to keep a day to day check on the sale at each shop,” says Ramendra.
Ganguly adds that art is a social metaphor and through such plays, an actor inside the theatre becomes an activist outside the theatre. The team is scheduled to travel to Singur in the last week of February.
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posted by Bimal 31.1.07,
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Malnutrition on the rise in Chhattisgarh
Mohuya Chaudhuri
There is little cheer in southern Chhattisgarh where hunger and malnutrition have increased sharply since the start of 'Salwa Judum', a movement against naxalism.
The movement involves moving out adivasis to resettlement camps. These displaced adivasis without access to forests or livelihood are acutely vulnerable to malnutrition.
The Gorgonda village in Bastar has witnessed the horrifying impact of conflict between the Maoists and the Salwa Judum, a locally raised counter-naxalite force.Homes lie empty, abandoned when villagers fled to save their lives. Some houses were burnt down, others vandalized.
Violence has intensified after the creation of Salwa Judum in July 2005 and villagers are caught in the crossfire.Post conflict, the Integrated Children Development Scheme (ICDS) has collapsed in Bastar.
Thousands of people have left their homes and for them the last priority is food.Strewn foodgrains, a cold stove are the only evidence to prove the existence of an anganwadi.
Pulse polio messages and literacy slogans indicate it also doubled up as a primary health centre and school. Across Bastar, ICDS centres have shut down, either by force or simply because security personnel moved in. At the moment, 250 schools in Bastar's Dantewada district are being used by CRPF battalions
Own brand of terror
Ironically, the state-backed Salwa Judum, meant to take on the Maoists, is now unleashing its own brand of terror."In over 700 villages, teachers, anganwadi workers, health workers, hand pump repairers have been stopped from going there.
Our volunteers tried to go there and take stock of the situation but Salwa Judum members kidnapped two of our workers because we visited enemy villages," said Himanshu, Vanvasi Chetna Ashram.The government's answer was to shift thousands of adivasis to camps near the district headquarters but it has only made matters worse for them.
For a year and a half over 25,000 people have survived in the tiny shanties at Dornapal. It is the largest camp for displaced adivasis in naxal affected Dantewada district of Chhatisgarh. In the initial months, the government doled out rations; around two kilos of rice per person every month. And on some days, small amounts of dal and potatoes, which are not enough to fill people's hungry stomachs or meet their nutrition needs.
Today, even that has stopped. "It is living hell in the camp. They are ill, they are hungry and they are in difficulty. They want to go home. The government has stopped giving rations. In some places, a little bit is being given; everywhere it's not enough. So people are hungry and living a hard life," said Himanshu, Vanvasi Chetna Ashram.
Cycle of deprivation
Till the face off between the Maoists and Salwa Judum the adivasis lived off the forest and their land, eating organic rice, roots, fruits and protein-rich fish and meat.
But with the escalating tension and their own lives under threat, food became scarce. They couldn't go into the forests as often, afraid they could be attacked.
But once they reached the camp their access to the forest ended completely and so did their livelihood. The absence of any purchasing power only increased their impoverishment and its visible everywhere, reed thin children with vacant eyes, clinging to their underfed mothers who are barely able to breastfeed.
Volunteers at the camp say this cycle of deprivation has caused widespread malnutrition. Twelve children died of malnutrition in July last year, deaths that went unacknowledged by the state government. The state health workers confirmed the deaths but refused to speak on camera."We found that at least 12 children had died but did the government do anything? It does not even acknowledge the deaths.
This was bound to happen when you uproot people from their homes and force them to live locked up in these camps. They have no freedom to look after themselves," said Subhash Mahapatra, a human rights activist.
UNICEF intervention
It was only after deaths were reported that the government stepped in. Four ICDS care centres or anganwadis were set up for 2000 children who live here. Even though children below six are supposed to receive food, healthcare and elementary schooling at the anganwadi all they get is a daily meal of khichdi.
The state minister for women and child development was on a visit in the area. At the UNICEF-run nutrition rehabilitation centre she spoke to anganwadi workers, all of whom had been shifted from their centres in conflict-hit villages to work at the camp."After Salwa Judum came we couldn't work over there, so the government told us to come here," said Savita, an anganwadi worker.Set up five months ago, the centre's first task was to identify the grade four or severely malnourished children below six.
Many families had been living here under appalling conditions since August 2005. NDTV's team had visited the camp then and found rampant illness and children on the brink of starvation.Today at least 95 children are seriously malnourished.
The UNICEF provided immediate intervention, a diet of egg, banana, milk and khichdi, and some of the children like Raju did improve. But now the worry is that less than half the children turn up since their mothers can't spend their entire day at the centre and have other children to take care.Minister defends ICDS
But the minister defends the ICDS programme."It is not as if dalia and other goods are not reaching our anganwadis. I can guarantee you 101 per cent that nutritious food is reaching all anganwadis in Chhatisgarh," said Lata Usendi, Minister of Women and Child Development.But the reality is starkly different.
The trauma of living in a conflict zone, homeless and battling hidden hunger has taken a severe toll on the health of the adivasis and the greatest impact has been on young children and mothers. In a similar experiment, the Andhra Pradesh government had moved thousands of adivasis in Kurnool, Mahboobnagar and Prakasham districts to camps.
Social activists say that many wasted away within a period of ten years, a costly price that Chhattisgarh too may have to pay if the government continues to believe that Salwa Judum is a Gandhian movement fostering peace not violence.
link
Labels: chhattisgarh, News, Salwa Judam
posted by Bimal 31.1.07,
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Three Maoists arrested in Orissa, explosives seized
Malkangiri, Jan. 30 (PTI): Three Maoists, including two women cadres, have been arrested and a large quantity of explosives and electronic detonators seized from the jungles of Karmaguda, about 80 km from here.
On a tip off last night, police and the special operation group (SOG) personnel had launched a joint combing operation in the forests during which the armed radicals opened fire at security personnel, forcing them to return fire, Superintendent of Police Himanshu Kumar Lal said.
The gunbattle continued for over an hour during which a total of 280 rounds were fired, including 50 by the ultras, Lal said.
When the ultras tried to flee the area under the cover of darkness, security personnel caught three of them.
The nabbed Maoists had been identified as Mangamma, Laxmi and Ramesh and they belonged to popular 'Naxal Dalam' active along the Orissa-Andhra Pradesh border.
Other devices seized by the police from the spot included fuse wires, cellphones, wll phones, computer equipment, besides Maoist literatures printed in Telugu.
Combing operation in the area had been intensified, the SP added.
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India police in 'shooting mishap'
Two police patrols in south-east India have fired on each other by mistake, leaving one policeman dead and two others injured, police say.
They said the patrols both believed they were coming under attack from Maoist rebels active in the area.
The incident took place in dense forest in the state of Andhra Pradesh, near the border with Chattisgarh.
The area is a stronghold of the Maoists, who have been waging an armed campaign for four decades.
Link
Labels: CPI(Maoist), News, Orissa
posted by Bimal 31.1.07,
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India directs state govts to increase security along Indo-Nepal border
NEW DELHI, Jan 30 - New Delhi Tuesday asked its state governments to keep a close eye on security along the Indo-Nepal border to control the rising unrest in the Terai region.
According to sources, Utter Pradesh and Bihar have already mobilized additional border security forces along the 1800-kilometer porous border with Nepal. The state government also began close vigilance on possible violent activities in the border areas.
The Indian government's move came after the visiting Nepali political leaders met with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister Shiv Raj Patil and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and discussed the recent unrest in the Terai region today.
The Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Singh, after meeting with the Nepali leaders, urged the eight-party leaders to resolve the Terai unrest at the earliest.
"We have increased vigilance along the border," said Foreign Minister Patil, adding, "You (Nepal) should also remain vigilant."
Visiting Minister for Culture and Tourism Pradip Gyawali, Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel and UML leader Jhalanath Khanal separately met Mukherjee this morning. They met the Indian prime minister and Congress President Sonia Gandhi on the sidelines of the Satyaghraha programme.
"I want to assure you that there will not be any activities on our soil that will jeopardize the ongoing (Nepal's) peace process," Minister Gyawali quoted the Indian foreign minister as saying.
When the Nepali leaders stated that "royalists and some extremist groups of India" had stirred the Terai violence, Indian Minister Mukherjee said that "some elements with bad intentions could have taken advantage of the open border."
During the meeting, the Indian minister also acquired information about Nepal's recent political developments and Maoist arms management issues.
Link
Labels: News
posted by Bimal 31.1.07,
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Prachanda’s lessons from Singur
30 January, 2007
The Maoists of Nepal have made history. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and particularly its two leaders Prakash Karat and Sitaram Yechury helped them make it, most of the help coming in at the final stages of the transition from monarchy.
However, it would be a big mistake for the Maoists to take any further guidance from Indian leftists, whose ideological confusion has landed them in controversies such as over Singur in West Bengal. Armed revolutionaries have achieved a peaceful transfer of power and proved willing to take part in multi-party democracy.
This is the fist time something like this has happened in the history of the communist movement across the world and that is the significance of the Nepalese Maoists’ feat. Of course, that ‘peaceful’ has to be qualified. Much blood had been shed by the king’s armed forces and by the Maoists, before the king was finally forced to hand over power to the people. Only the final regime change was accomplished without bloodshed.
For the Maoists to depart from the traditional communist mould, it mattered that the regime change took place in a historical context where democracy rather than single-party dictatorship has gained acceptance as relatively the most participative and sustainable form of government.
It also mattered that Nepal’s powerful neighbour India, while capable of cooperating with entrenched non-democratic regimes, as in Myanmar, would have found it difficult to help found a non-democratic alternative to the crumbling monarchy of Nepal.
The UPA government’s dependence on the CPI(M) for its parliamentary majority helped it appreciate, ignoring American and related opinion, the need to include the Maoists as full-fledged partners in the successor regime to the tottering monarchy.
In any case, the tired, old, in-bred groupings that pass themselves off as political parties in Nepal would have hardly inspired popular confidence, if they had not joined hands with the actively insurgent Maoists.
Given the seeming clout that the Indian Left has in New Delhi and, given, also, its electoral success in West Bengal and Kerala, it is tempting for the Maoists of Nepal, when they begin to wade into the untested waters of democratic politics, to try and seek further help from the Indian Left.
The temptation could prove fatal. To see why, the Maoists just need to look at the controversy over acquisition of farm-land in Left-ruled West Bengal for industrial purposes. The CPI(M) is finding it difficult to explain why the Left, traditional champions of the displaced and the dispossessed, have turned dispossessor on behalf of big capital — the Tatas and Indonesia’s Salim group.
Why does the party, whose cadre and followers routinely shout themselves hoarse demanding the downfall of capitalism and popular resistance to globalisation now behave like the henchmen and middlemen of unabashed global capitalists?
The problem lies in the CPI(M)’s programmatic blindness to the reality of vibrant capitalism in its current phase of globalisation. The party and the movement it leads still blindly oppose capitalist development.
The problem really goes back to a sleight of hand practised by the erstwhile communist party of the Soviet Union in the glory days of Sputnik, Vietnam and the Socialist counterweight to imperialist over-reach. Read More>>
posted by Bimal 30.1.07,
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Red alert for the CPI(M)
29 January, 2007
Aloke Banerjee
Singur and Nandigram have put the CPI(M) in a tight spot — not only in West Bengal but at the national level as well. Allegations that the party is maintaining double standards is haunting it everywhere.
When Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee acquires land for industries, it is good as it is for ‘employment generation’. But then does it make sense when the CPI(M) resists Congress or BJP governments doing the same in their own states?
The CPI(M) meet in New Delhi in early 2005 had identified the main weakness of the party as its failure to grow out of the boundaries of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. The strategy was to oppose the Centre’s economic policies and intensify class struggle in other states, particularly in the villages.
The CPI(M) meet in New Delhi in early 2005 had identified the main weakness of the party as its failure to grow out of the boundaries of West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. The strategy was to oppose the Centre’s economic policies and intensify class struggle in other states, particularly in the villages.
Accordingly, the CPI(M) sharpened its criticism of the Congress-led UPA government. But strangely, ever since Bhattacharjee came to power for the second time in West Bengal in 2006, the CPI(M)’s sting against the Centre lost much of its venom.
In the 2005 assembly elections in Hissar, Haryana, the CPI(M) had fielded the state secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (Citu) against the Congress candidate, Sajjan Jindal’s brother.
In the 2005 assembly elections in Hissar, Haryana, the CPI(M) had fielded the state secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (Citu) against the Congress candidate, Sajjan Jindal’s brother.
The CPI(M)’s main slogan was: Jindals flout labour laws in their factories. Will the CPI(M) be able to raise such slogans any more after Bhattacharjee gave a red carpet welcome to the Jindal group to bag its steel plant project in the state?
In 2002, the CPI(M) had bitterly criticised the Tata’s acquisition of 25 per cent share of the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL). Will it be able to raise even a muffled voice after the Tata Motors controversy in Singur?
In Dadri, the CPI has joined hands with V.P. Singh against the acquisition of land by the Uttar Pradesh government for the Ambanis. But the CPI(M) has not joined the fight. Is it because Bhattacharjee is eagerly pursuing the Ambanis for getting investment in the state?
If capitalism can cure unemployment, what is the utility of a Communist Party like the CPI(M)? The party will have to seek acceptable answers to such questions.
The strength of the CPI(M) in states other than West Bengal, Bihar and Tripura is abysmal. In Assam, the CPI(M) has only two MLAs. In Bihar it has one. In Jharkhand, the MLA strength is nil. In Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Rajasthan it has an MLA each. In Maharashtra, the party has three MLAs, while in UP it has only two.
One Nandigram is giving enough trouble to the CPI(M) in West Bengal. Several more Nandigrams are waiting to happen. The government has plans to acquire 5,000 acres for the Salim Group at Kukrahati near Nandigram for a residential-cum-commercial complex. Two other ‘Salim townships’ are to come up at the Magrahat-Baruipur area and the Canning-Bhangore zone.
If capitalism can cure unemployment, what is the utility of a Communist Party like the CPI(M)? The party will have to seek acceptable answers to such questions.
The strength of the CPI(M) in states other than West Bengal, Bihar and Tripura is abysmal. In Assam, the CPI(M) has only two MLAs. In Bihar it has one. In Jharkhand, the MLA strength is nil. In Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Rajasthan it has an MLA each. In Maharashtra, the party has three MLAs, while in UP it has only two.
One Nandigram is giving enough trouble to the CPI(M) in West Bengal. Several more Nandigrams are waiting to happen. The government has plans to acquire 5,000 acres for the Salim Group at Kukrahati near Nandigram for a residential-cum-commercial complex. Two other ‘Salim townships’ are to come up at the Magrahat-Baruipur area and the Canning-Bhangore zone.
Another 3,000 acres of land will be required to build the 100 km Eastern Link Highway. Several commercial blocks will be set up along the highway that will require another 1,000 acres of land.
Several industrial estates will also come up over 400 acres of land. The Bhumi Uchhed Protirodh Committee, an umbrella organisation of all the Opposition parties, have already spread out to all these places and more to gear up for another round of ‘bloody resistance’.
For all the 42 years of its existence, the CPI(M) has been able to maintain its monolithic, disciplined structure. It is this belief that has so far helped the party to overcome serious differences. But the new generation of cadres is being exposed to a different ideology. They are growing up in an atmosphere vastly different from what their predecessors were exposed to.
All the veteran leaders had been jailed, beaten up by police for their struggle against capitalism. But for the new generation, red-carpet welcomes to industrialists, setting up shopping malls and expressways, travelling in cars are all acceptable.
For all the 42 years of its existence, the CPI(M) has been able to maintain its monolithic, disciplined structure. It is this belief that has so far helped the party to overcome serious differences. But the new generation of cadres is being exposed to a different ideology. They are growing up in an atmosphere vastly different from what their predecessors were exposed to.
All the veteran leaders had been jailed, beaten up by police for their struggle against capitalism. But for the new generation, red-carpet welcomes to industrialists, setting up shopping malls and expressways, travelling in cars are all acceptable.
Even Left Front Chairman Biman Bose had to recently observe that if the agitation continues further and if the ideological moorings are allowed to be loosened even more, the CPI(M) could be doomed forever.
posted by Bimal 29.1.07,
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People's March February issue
28 January, 2007
Download Peoples March february 2007 issue below
PEOPLES MARCH
Labels: Article, Peoples march
posted by Bimal 28.1.07,
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500 CPI (ML) Liberation activists held in Singur
In Singur, police today arrested nearly 500 CPI (ML) Liberation activists, including its secretary Kartik Paul, for violating prohibitory orders.
They were protesting against land acquisition for the Tata Motors project
Jamait turns up SEZ heat
Nandigram/Calcutta, Jan. 27: The Jamait Ulema-i-Hind today threatened to step up its agitation against the government if land is forcibly acquired for setting up a special economic zone in Nandigram.
Addressing a rally in Nandigram, which was rocked by violence two weeks ago, Jamait general secretary Siddiqullah Chowdhury said: “Land in Nandigram belongs to the people of Bengal and not the Salims.” He was referring to Indinesia’s Salim Group, which has proposed to set up a chemical hub in Nandigram.
“Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee should understand the sentiments of the people before making moves to acquire land for creation of an SEZ here. Our organisation is preparing for a bigger movement against the state government, and the farmers of Nandigram are with us.”
Chowdhury told the crowd that sports and transport minister Subhas Chakraborty had contacted him a few days ago to explain the government’s stand on industry and also sought an assurance from him that the Jamait would co-operate with the state administration.
“I told him that Jamait will talk and co-operate with the government only if an assurance is given that land would not be taken in Nandigram,” the Jamait leader said.
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Labels: Bengal, CPI (M-L) Liberation, Nandigram, News
posted by Bimal 28.1.07,
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Interview with C. P. Gajurel (Gaurav)
.....'They were curious to know about the technicalities of our party. They questioned me regarding many aspects of our party. How many members are there? How many in the central committee? How is the party structured? When I said that my party ethics do not allow me to divulge any information, they said, "We can kill someone, dump the body somewhere and no will be any the wiser; Tamil Nadu is infamous for such activities." '........................
EKantipur News:(Interview by Yeshoda Timsina)
22nd January, 2007
Excerpts of a recent interview with the CPN-Maoist party's in-charge of international affairs and politburo member, Chandra Prakash Gajurel (Gaurav).
Q. How did you get arrested in Chennai?
C. P. Gajurel: I was on my way to Europe for some official party business. I was using a fake passport, which belonged to a British individual; the passport had my photograph instead of his. While changing the photo, it was slightly crumpled at the edges.
My friends had warned me that it was risky. And eventually the immigration officers questioned me. I was giving my answer when the wife of the British High Commissioner came to drop her husband off who was about to leave for London. As it turned out, she herself was a diplomat too.
When my passport was shown to her, she questioned me about London. However, I was unable to answer even her easiest questions and instead, I cross-questioned her, "Who are you to be questioning me?" And although she didn't apologize, she did say that I had made the airport staff suspicious. The next day, the British High Commissioner himself arrived there.
I was interrogated all night. Finally they found out that my passport was fake. I identified myself before the authorities. The party manifesto itself dictates that high officers, when caught, cannot hide their real identities.
Q. So you were at fault?
Gajurel: Yes. At a time with the "red corner notice" and a price on our heads, it was impossible to travel with our original credentials. But it was extremely necessary to go to Europe to extend the party ranks. Thus, I had to take the risk.
Q. How did the Chennai Police treat you after they realized that you were a Maoist member?
Gajurel: They were curious to know about the technicalities of our party. They questioned me regarding many aspects of our party. How many members are there? How many in the central committee?
How is the party structured? When I said that my party ethics do not allow me to divulge any information, they said, "We can kill someone, dump the body somewhere and no will be any the wiser; Tamil Nadu is infamous for such activities."
They told me that even if they sympathized with me, they could not save me.
Q. How was the treatment inside the jail?
Gajurel: In the beginning the police officer there ordered me to be placed in "solitary confinement" because I was an extremist leader. There was a communication problem as they did not understand English and I did not know Tamil. The food was pathetic and water was so dirty, I got sick as soon as I drank it. After a week, my wife visited me. For the next one and a half months I survived on the water, bread and fruits that she brought me. They started treating me like the other prisoners only after I threatened the authorities to go on a hunger strike.
Q. Was there anyone worth recalling that you met during your jail term?
Gajurel: There was a journalist named Navkiran Gopal. He used to publish a newspaper named "Navkiran" twice a week. At that time the infamous Indian dacoit Veerappan had kidnapped south Indian actor Rajkumar. In order to have Rajkumar released, Gopal was acting as a facilitator. But when Veerappan got killed then Gopal was arrested. While I shared a cell with him, I got to listen to the radio. One day he had to write a letter in English so I wrote it for him. When the authorities saw that, they separated us and sent me back to my initial cell.
Q. Definitely staying in jail is not very fruitful, but what do you think is the advantage you gained because of it?
Gajurel: After my arrest, demonstrations were staged in more than 35 countries all over the world. Everyone was worried that I might be extradited back to Nepal, which is probably why it never happened. Some inmates used to say, "You have become more famous than the chief minister of Chennai." On my court hearing days there used to be hundreds of people outside the court. Some people were skeptical to the point that they asked me whether I had got myself arrested on purpose. My arrest and the arrest of many of our party members was very helpful in establishing us in South Asia. In my opinion jail is one place where you should learn to take every negative thing positively.
Q. After you had been taken to Jalpaigudi jail you were deemed a political detainee?
Gajurel: No I was labeled a political detainee only in the last two months of imprisonment. During that period, even the facilities given to me in prison were good.
Q. Did you ever think that you would be released this soon?
Gajurel: Considering the charges against me I should have been released even earlier. But the Indian government had plotted to detain me longer under many other false charges. Our early release was a result of the rapidly changing political situation of Nepal in those days.
Q. Moving to another topic, what are the future international policies of the CPN-M?
Gajurel: Our policies will definitely be based on the Panchasheel. We will maintain friendly relations with all other countries. Of course, we will decide what our relations are going to be like with each individual nation. Any agreements and treaties that we will sign in future will be in favour of Nepal and Nepalis.
Q. Do you mean that the treaties and agreements that were signed earlier were not in favour of Nepal?
Gajurel: Yes, they had been signed under unfavourable and different circumstances. We are merely saying that those old treaties like the one signed with India in 1950 should be replaced with new ones.
Q. Haven't issues of reviewing the past treaties and agreements also arisen?
Gajurel: Why bring up reviewing when two nations are in agreement? This would be like making an amendment all over again. Our focus is on annulment and new formations not on reviewing past actions.
Q. What is the reason behind the 180 degree turn in your attitude towards India?
Gajurel: Earlier, even India was against the Maoist revolution. So naturally, our views weren't positive towards them at that time. But recently, we have felt a positive change in their attitude towards us. Even when the 12 point agreement was being formulated India did support it indirectly. We don't dwell on the past. We might have stopped calling India an expansionist state, but our attitude towards them will depend upon their approach to Nepal and Nepalis in future.
Q. How are your relations with America?
Gajurel: America is a typical imperialist. In order to implement its diplomatic policies in India and China, Nepal is a strategically important place for America.
Q. Aren't you closer to China, in terms of ideology?
Gajurel: China is a communist country only in name's sake. But the fact is, they are capitalist in nature. But in any case, we treat them like a good neighbour. But, obviously since China is 1600 kilometres further away than India we do not have as much to do with China as with India. Thus, "closeness to India is the need of the hour for the country today."
Q. What kind of relations will you have with other rebel forces outside Nepal?
Gajurel: They are all good. Of course, that doesn't mean that we are in a state of complete unanimity.
Q. So, isn't it that this whole revolution was, after all is said and done, to get in to Parliament with its old and ineffective structure and ideology?
Gajurel: Our revolt was and will always be for Nepal and Nepalis. Our revolt always had the mass as its focal point. Nobody admits that they are hungry for power. The Nepali people will be the judge of whether the 83 MPs that we have selected are worthy or not. We will just have to wait and see.
Q. Your party too must want a share in the important ministries?
Gajurel: That is still left to be seen. We are waiting to see whether there will be a suitable climate in which we can choose portfolios. The way the ministries have been shared at the moment, we will probably get ministries too. We have even heard rumors that government officials are being made ready to prevent us from doing our duties. We are just going to wait and react as and when necessary.
Q. Why has the power-sharing been limited to the Eight Party Alliance? Isn't there anybody outside the Eight Party Alliance in the country?
Gajurel: Why not? We have the Civil society! We have seen the huge role of civil society during and after the April movement. So, we are always watchful that the civil society members get the respect they deserve. You will see the results of this in the coming days.
Q. You have been given 83 seats in the Interim Legislature; do you think you can maintain the number after the elections?
Gajurel: You talk about maintaining our seats, we are confident that we will form the government.
Q. What are the possibilities of all Left parties coming together?
Gajurel: We urge not only the Left parties but also the Congress to unite. We are even ready to give up Prachandapath if that is what it takes.
posted by Bimal 28.1.07,
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Maoist response to intellectuals’ appeal for peace
27 January, 2007
A 'reasonable' letter from the extremists on their acts earns public appreciationThe Maoist response to intellectuals’ appeal for peace in Bastar jungles:
The government must create an atmosphere conducive for peace
Jan adalats are justified, its system is superior to the courts
Police only happen to be targets in the wake of violence against people
Innocents have died in cases of mistaken identity, we aren’t against people-friendly development projects
"Whether to live a life of slavery and indignity and die of hunger by remaining docile or (through) peaceful protests...or take up arms to completely eradicate the grounds that give birth to all kinds of oppression in order to live as free human beings...."Mupalla Laxmana Rao, popularly known as Ganapathi, general secretary, CPI (Maoist)
It's seldom that the Maoists feel the necessity to communicate with the outside world, so when they do, it's an occasion.
The letter regrets undue violence against civilians, even seeks tips to avert such errors.
Proving—even if they don't want to admit it—the pen can at times be mightier than the sword.Recently, the Independent Citizens' Initiative or the ICI—a group of six eminent persons including journalist B.G. Verghese, historian Ramachandra
Guha, former secretary to the government of India E.A.S. Sarma and sociologist Nandini Sundar—appealed to them to give up armed warfare and negotiate with the government.
A detailed response by the Maoists operating from the jungles of Bastar proved far more than a indictment of the establishment.
It lent a chance for all to take a closer look at the lives of the poor, and reasons for the violence.The letter should be essential reading for political leaders and government officials who think special economic zones and big dam projects hold the future.
Those who have, for long, neglected remote and difficult areas of the country. The term Naxal is often coupled with the word 'menace' but, of late, the Maoists have been winning unexpected sympathisers.
Those who have, for long, neglected remote and difficult areas of the country. The term Naxal is often coupled with the word 'menace' but, of late, the Maoists have been winning unexpected sympathisers.
Not just the likes of writer-activist Arundhati Roy who, while protesting against SEZs in West Bengal, said, "Such policies would ultimately force the marginalised to take up arms.
"Lately, even a former BSF director general, Prakash Singh, was moved to say, "I have no doubt that many of them are highly motivated, fighting for a cause. They are far better than the criminals who have managed to infiltrate assemblies and Parliament and even become ministers.
" Former prime minister V.P. Singh, referring to the SEZ model, said he wanted to become a Maoist "if this is the model of development".The tenor of the Maoists' letter, penned on behalf of them by Ganapathi, is civilised—even urbane. It's also sharply argued, doesn't shy away taking on any of the eight points the ICI raised.
It's been formulated following a discussion in the CPI (Maoist) politburo. As poet, journalist and far-left ideologue Varavara Rao told Outlook, "When we get a letter—like this one from the ICI—the politburo deliberates on it.
Then one person would draft a reply."The current correspondence arose in the context of the state of a near-civil war in Dantewada, a tribal district of Chhattisgarh, where the government-sponsored Salwa Judum movement has resulted—since mid-2004—in pushing the tribals into a piquant choice: either you are with us or you are against us, either you are with the Salwa Judum or with the Maoists. In short, tribals have been forced to fight against tribals.As for the ICI—which last year released a detailed report on the violence generated by Salwa Judum—wrote in its letter to the Maoists:
"We believe that the defence of the rights of the adivasis can be ensured more effectively through political, non-violent and open means, rather than through armed struggle....
Read More >> >
"Lately, even a former BSF director general, Prakash Singh, was moved to say, "I have no doubt that many of them are highly motivated, fighting for a cause. They are far better than the criminals who have managed to infiltrate assemblies and Parliament and even become ministers.
" Former prime minister V.P. Singh, referring to the SEZ model, said he wanted to become a Maoist "if this is the model of development".The tenor of the Maoists' letter, penned on behalf of them by Ganapathi, is civilised—even urbane. It's also sharply argued, doesn't shy away taking on any of the eight points the ICI raised.
It's been formulated following a discussion in the CPI (Maoist) politburo. As poet, journalist and far-left ideologue Varavara Rao told Outlook, "When we get a letter—like this one from the ICI—the politburo deliberates on it.
Then one person would draft a reply."The current correspondence arose in the context of the state of a near-civil war in Dantewada, a tribal district of Chhattisgarh, where the government-sponsored Salwa Judum movement has resulted—since mid-2004—in pushing the tribals into a piquant choice: either you are with us or you are against us, either you are with the Salwa Judum or with the Maoists. In short, tribals have been forced to fight against tribals.As for the ICI—which last year released a detailed report on the violence generated by Salwa Judum—wrote in its letter to the Maoists:
"We believe that the defence of the rights of the adivasis can be ensured more effectively through political, non-violent and open means, rather than through armed struggle....
Read More >> >
Labels: CPI(Maoist), News, Pictures
posted by Bimal 27.1.07,
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Uneasy calm returns to Singur, Nandigram
Singur/ Nandigram/ Kolkata, Jan 27 (ANI): A string of protests and arrests of Naxal activists in and around Singur and Nandigram on Saturday has brought back uneasy calm in the southern districts of West Bengal that witnessed violence over the land acquisition row for TATA's factory and a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) respectively.
Today as Jamat-e-Ulema-Hind, a Muslim organisation, held a huge protest rally in Kolkata against the acquisition of land by the State Government in Nandigram, hundreds of people marched towards Singur, where prohibitory order is already in force.
"One lakh and twenty-five thousand acres of land and 700 villages are at stake. We cannot tolerate this catastrophe in Bengal, said Maulana Siddiqulla Chowdhury of Jamat-e-Ulema-Hind.
The Naxal dominated areas of Singur and Nandigram are witnessing resurgence of Naxal movement that rocked the State in late sixties. While 990 acres of land acquisition for TATA's one-lakh rupee car factory has been the bone of contention in Singur, in Nandigram land for POSCO's SEZ has turned into a violent controversy.
The CPI (ML-Liberation) leaders Kartick Pal and Sajal Adhikari led a protest march today, and tried to enter Singur, but were taken into custody by the police near the Kamarkundu police station.Trinamool Congress have said that their protest against setting up of TATA factory would be intensified from Sunday as their party workers would block roads leading to Durgapur and Singur.
On Friday, farmers set fire to fence posts at the TATA car plant site, as the construction work for the factory began. The villagers are continuously attempting to burn the post by throwing kerosene soaked jute bags to the poles.
In Nandigram too the injured victims of the recent violence are demanding a permanent moratorium on land acquisition.
The calm returned in the area after Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya had admitted that the State government acted in a 'hasty manner' over the SEZ establishment in Nandigram and said that he was ready to discuss over the compensation in the Singur land acquisition row.
Link
Labels: Bengal, Nandigram, News, Singur
posted by Bimal 27.1.07,
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'We paid Rs 1 lakh for Afzal's release'
SRINAGAR: Campaigning for her husband's life, wife of Mohammad Afzal Guru, sentenced to death in the Parliament attack case, on Friday claimed to have paid Rs one lakh to Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police to get him released from custody in 2000.
"Afzal was picked up by SOG personnel in 2000. Two days later, the SOG officers called us and demanded Rs one lakh for his release," Tabassum said.She said it took her family five days to collect the money from various sources and paid the officers of the SOG for release of her husband.
Afzal was released 18 days after we paid the money to the police officers, she claimed. Tabassum alleged that the SOG personnel even took away the Bajaj scooter Afzal was riding on the day he was arrested.
Asked to name the officers, Tabassum was initially reluctant but alleged Vinay Gupta, Devender Singh and Shanti Singh were the officers who had taken money from her.
She said after his release, Afzal moved to Srinagar from Sopore in the hope of escaping the harassment of the SOG personnel but there was no respite for the family.
Later, Afzal went to Delhi and he was falsely implicated in the Parliament attack case, she claimed.
Tabassum said she feared for her life as the SOG still ruled the roost in Kashmir. "They can do anything they want. I hope they do not harm me or my son in retaliation," she said.
Link
Labels: Jammu Kashmir, News
posted by Bimal 27.1.07,
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CRPF jawan dead in Naxal attack : Orissa
26 January, 2007
New Delhi: A CRPF jawan was killed and two were critically injured in a landmine blast by Naxals in Malkangiri District of Orissa.
The blast took place near the Kalimela police station of the district. Heavy exchange of fire took place between the police and the Naxals soon after the blast.
The Naxals had given a boycott call for Republic Day celebrations in that area and had felled large trees on the road to restrict police entering the area.
The land mine blast took place as the CRPF jawans were trying to clear the road to Kalimela police station.
Despite the blast and amidst Naxal and self immolation threats by as many as 25 government employees to press their demands before the government in Bhubaneswar, Republic Day was celebrated with full colour and fervor.
In Bhubaneswar Governor Rameswar Thakur took the salute.
Link
Labels: CPI(Maoist), News, Orissa
posted by Bimal 26.1.07,
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Orissa farmers rise against Mittal
Bhubaneshwar: Arcelor-Mittal’s mega-budget steel project in Orissa has run into rough weather. The question is, if Orissa Chief Minister will also follow footsteps of West Bengal CM Budhdhadeb Battacharjee—who did not let protests and political turmoil come in the way of Tata’s investment in Singur? Mittal’s Rs 40,000 crore SEZ project along-with South Koreas POSCO are being touted as the biggest investment that Orissa government is welcoming with open arms.But the projects being placed on multi-crop land has stirred farmers rage for whom the land is their only source of earning.
"We will not allow Mittal steel to come up here. We will not give away our lands as they are our only source of livelihood,” Keonjhar farmer Phulamani said.
The Orissa government claims that it has the best Rehabilitation and Resettlement policy for the displaced people. Chief Minister Patnaik had clearly said that he would only allow the single-crop land to be used for industrial purposes.
"We have selected semi-urban areas where various IT industry projects are also coming up. We are being careful about giving away only the one-crop land for the SEZ project." Patnaik said.
However, Keonjhar farmers say that the CM is giving mere ‘lip service’. “We give an ultimatum to the government. If they want to set up plant, they should look for barren land rather than snatching our fertile crop land," said farmer Hrudayaballav Rout.
People from 17 villages in the area took out a protest march on Saturday to the district Collector’s office protesting the move. "They gave a memorandum saying that since it is a multi crop fertile and irrigated land it should not be handed over for the project," Keonjhar Collector B B Mohapatra, said.
Though the state government is yet to demarcate the exact land that would be acquired for the Mittal project, going by the protest in Keonjhar it seems the affected people are not ready to buy governments’ claims at any cost.
Link
Labels: Displacement, News, Orissa, Pictures
posted by Bimal 26.1.07,
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Karnataka: suspected naxal held.
CHIKMAGLUR: Gonibeedu Police arrested one G M Krishnamurthy (32) of Bhadra Estate in Balehole, suspecting him to be a naxalite, at Mudigere on Wednesday.
At around 7.30 am, Krishnamurthy boarded the Mudegere-Bangalore KSTRC bus. Acting on a hunch, police constable Purnesh who was travelling in the same bus informed the Banakal police station.
Krishnamurthy got off at Jannapura bus stop and tried to escape. But the people caught him and handed him over to the police. Krishnamurthy was taken to Ramanahalli DAR police station.
Police suspect that Krishnamurthy is the brother of naxalite Vanajakshi, who was arrested when B K Singh was SP.
After her arrest, Krishnamurthy was absconding and is said to have joined the naxalites.According to sources, three cases were already registered against Krishnamurthy for being part of naxal activities in the region.
In December 11, 2003, a case was registered for destroying the forest department check post near Sringeri.
He is also said to be involved in the burning of the forest guest house on November 27, 2003.A case was registered against him for distributing naxal pamphlets in Balehonnur on January 8, 2004.
Labels: CPI(Maoist), Karnataka, News
posted by Bimal 26.1.07,
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Singur fence posts set on fire
Singur (Hooghly), Jan. 25: Farmers opposed to land acquisition in Singur twice set fire to fence posts at the Tata car plant site early this morning.
One of the burnt posts.
Around 5.30 am, a group of villagers wrapped jute bags soaked in kerosene around 10 wooden posts and set them on fire at Beraberi, about 50 km from Calcutta. Police arrived about half an hour later and doused the flames.
An hour later, a group of women came to the site and set fire to the posts again. The police gave chase but could not catch anybody.
A police team later raided two clubs in adjoining Bajemelia in search of the culprits but did not arrest anyone.
This is the third time that villagers have set fire to the fence posts since January 21, when the Tata Motors authorities performed bhoomi puja.
In Calcutta, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee reviewed the situation with chief secretary Amit Kiran Deb, industries secretary Sabyasachi Sen and other officers.
Link
Labels: Bengal, Displacement, News, Pictures, Singur
posted by Bimal 26.1.07,
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A Singur in The Making
Public Sector Displacement
NTPC’s coalmining venture faces stiff opposition from farmers who won’t leave their land and from experts who fear damage to prehistoric megaliths
Sixty-five-year-old Chandru Sao, 65, a farmer at Barkagaon in Hazaribagh district in northern Jharkhand, says his family has never had to go hungry, thanks to the seven acres of fertile farmland that he owns.
But these are desperate times — the public sector giant National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has started the process of acquiring land for its maiden, ambitious coalmine project at Punkhri-Barwadih, a small town 30 kilometres southwest of Hazaribagh town. Sao says he would rather die than be parted from his land. Thousands of farmers, small and big, in Barkagaon block of Hazaribagh face the same predicament.
With tempers rising, the sleepy hamlets around Punkhri-Barwadih have all the makings of turning into another Singur – a flashpoint of people’s violent resistance to the prospect of losing their fertile farmland to an industrial venture.
Apart from the loss of over 10,000 acres of well-irrigated three-crop farmland, and dense forests, NTPC’s planned opencast coalmine is likely to obliterate, or at the very least damage irreparably, Punkhri-Barwadih’s megaliths — some of the last vestiges of a prehistoric civilisation which flourished in the region.
The Rs 4,000-crore Punkhri-Barwadih project is NTPC’s first ever foray into coalmining. Scheduled to commence operations in December 2007, it will displace some 14,000 families.
In November 2006, a mob of thousands of farmers tore down NTPC’s project-site office at Barkagaon. Six were arrested and there seems to be a lull for now.
But, as a Tehelka investigation discovered, that is because villagers in the remote hamlets in this Naxal-infested region are busy re-organising themselves for a stronger assault before the process of land acquisition begins. Read More>>>
Labels: Displacement, Jharkhand
posted by Bimal 26.1.07,
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New force out to fight Naxalism
25 January, 2007
MALKANGIRI: The passing-out parade of the anti-extremist tactics’ 6th batch of trainees was held at the Malkangiri police parade ground today.
Malkangiri superintendent of police Mr Himansu Lal took the salute. Among others, sub-divisional police officer Mr Satyabrata Bhoi, deputy superintendent of police (operation) Mr subash Chandra Mahapatra and DSP Mr Sarat Chandra Paramguru attended the ceremony as guests of honour.
The SP, in his address to the trainees, said that the training imparted was purely anti-Naxalite and the they were advised to fight the malcontents fearlessly. He added that such training would be very much useful in the future life of the cadets.
He hoped that the trainees will definitely utilise the tactics they learnt while fighting Naxalism. He conveyed his thanks to the trainers and the trainees for their devotion to duty
Link
Labels: CPI(Maoist), News, Orissa
posted by Bimal 25.1.07,
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Press Release
(The following is a press Note released in a Press Conference on 21st Jan 2007 soon after the Anti- Displacement Conclave in Ranchi, Jharkhand attended by scores of organisations from several states)
No Displacement; No Rehabilitation; Only People’s Development
Today the vast sections of the people have been subjected to the worst kind of socio-economic crisis in the name of development. Today more and more tribals, dalits, minorities and the poorest of the poor are brutally removed from their forests, fields, lands, homes and cultures. They are being evicted in thousands from their lives and livelihoods. The powerful imperialist forces and their lackeys in the sub-continent are on their bid to capture the natural resources and perpetrate ruthless exploitation of labour. The people are rendered defenceless in the process of the dreaded Ds--Displacement, Disorganisation, Destitution and Decimation.
It is at a time that the need to unite and bring together all the fighting forces at the ground level against all forms of displacement under a single platform was mooted. And hence this preparatory meeting being held in Ranchi on the 20, 2tst of January, 2007. In this meeting, representatives of organizations and individuals from various states such as Jharkhand, Bengal, Haryana, Orissa, Delhi, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh deliberated on the strategies to carry forward the movement against displacement at the sub-continent level. ‘No to Displacement in any form’, was the firm resolve of the Meet.
The loot of the Indian people started after the advent of British rule with the super-imposition of the principle of Eminent Domain that virtually extinguished the natural right of the communities over their habitat and livelihood. This imperialist paradigm continued even post-1947 and despite the adoption of a new constitution. The special provisions for recognition and honouring the tribal people’s right under the constitution has been blatantly ignored that has sharpened the resentment of the people against the exploitative state.
After the creation of the new states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand at the instance of the imperialists this loot of the resources of the people has been facilitated under the new regime of globalization and liberalization. The surfeit of MOUs running over millions and millions of dollars has been executed without taking the people into confidence. The Anti-displacement meet rejected this development with disdain it deserves in the spirit of Tana Bhagat’s Resolve against the British authority—“Land is created by God, We are God’s children, Pray, from where has the state appeared?” The Anti- Displacement Meet in Ranchi called on the people to defend their habitat and their livelihood resources against the imperialists and the servile state.
While farmers who are committing suicide with agriculture being rendered increasingly non-viable, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are being set up throughout the country as ‘deemed foreign territories.’ These are devices to divert people’s attention as the logic of a more brutalized expropriation of the rural economy is ruthlessly unfolding. The Anti-Displacement Meet called for the rejection of the National Agricultural Policy 2000 that has once again ignored the land reforms agenda and unabashedly embraced the corporatisation of agriculture.
The Anti-Displacement Meet rejected the entire scheme of Displacement-Rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is an illusion that is used to co-opt the top-ten by the imperialists. Even the affected people of Bhakhra, the ‘first temple of modern India’ still awaits for their much-promised rehabilitation.
Extensive lands in Hatia and Rourkela had already been acquired that are without use. Let the State first place before the people the status of the already affected whose number runs into crores. Hisab Do (Give Account) is the call to the state before it decides to take even an inch of land that is the inheritance of the people. Let the state prepare ‘Rehabilitation Plans’ for these people and come clean with concrete results. For the people of India, the story Post-1947 can be summed up as ‘an unbroken history of broken promises, dysfunctional programmes and blatant violation of laws, constitution and human rights.’
Dr. BD Sharma (Bharat Jan Andolan_, KN Pandit (Trade union leader), B P Kesari (Jharkhand Vistapan Virodhi Samanwyaya Samiti Co-ordinator), Shashi Bhushan Pathak (Civil Rights Activist), D Barla (Journalist & Anti-displacement Activist), Rashmi Kathyayan (Advocate), Tridib Ghosh, and several others from various orgnisations participated in the discussion of the draft note on displacement. Earlier GN Saibaba (Revolutionary Democratic Front) presented the concept note on displacement that was to set the debate regarding the strategies to be undertaken in fighting the complex and challenging question of displacement that is affecting various sections and peoples of the sub-continent.
Around 100 organisations from different parts of the country and various intellectuals have expressed their consent to actively be part of the Movement against Displacement. These include organizations from Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, the North East, Haryana, Kerala and Delhi.
The Anti-Displacement Meet while stressing the need to bring all the struggling organizations and the people under a single platform have given a RANCHI CHALO call towards convening the First Conference and Massive Rally on the 22, 23 March 2007. Towards this, a preparatory committee of all the participating organizations and a working committee to convene the conference and rally was also formed in the Anti-Displacement Meet.
Singed by B.D. SHARMA & G.N. SAIBABA And
attended by representatives of anti-displacement
organisations from several part of India.
Labels: Displacement, Statement
posted by Bimal 25.1.07,
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CPM leader held ‘hostage’ in Nandigram
CPM leader held ‘hostage’ in Nandigram
Nandigram, Jan. 24: Lakshman Mondal, the CPM chief of the Sonachura panchayat, left for the bazaar around 7 am on January 7.
An hour later, about 150 people opposed to land acquisition stormed his two-storey mud house. It was ransacked, doused with diesel and set on fire.
Trembling, his wife Shukla grabbed her three-year-old daughter and five-year-old son and fled through a rear exit. A neighbour rescued her two other sons — one of them 10 and the other two years older.
Lakshman heard in the bazaar that his house had been attacked and headed to Khejuri, a CPM stronghold about a kilometre away. “He was caught by another mob on the bridge at Bhangabera,” said a villager.
Since then, Lakshman, 40, is being held hostage by the land acquisition protesters.
Police admitted knowing about his plight, but added that they would not launch a rescue mission fearing a repeat of the January 7 flare-up in which seven villagers were killed.
“I have not seen my husband since he left for the bazaar that day. A few days ago, some villagers said he was safe, but couldn’t come home as he could be lynched,” said Shukla, the uncertainty in her life apparent in the lines on her forehead and the teardrop waiting to brim over.
Until the land war broke, the Mondals were a happy family. Lakshman tilled a three-bigha plot and earned rent from a shop he had hired out to a sweetmeat dealer.
“I’ve sent my children to another village and am staying at a relative’s house,” said Shukla. “We will leave Sonachura for good if they release my husband.”
“Lakshman is safe, but we can’t say what will happen if CPM workers or the police try to take him away,” said Bakul Dev Das, a Trinamul Congress member of the Sonachura panchayat.
Sabuj Pradhan, a Bhoomi Uchchhed Pratirodh Committee leader, said the villagers were “very angry” with Lakshman for his pro-industry stand. “They’ll kill him if he is seen in the village. We’ll not reveal where he is now.”
A villager added that the committee would use Lakshman as a shield if the police try to enter Sonachura to probe the bloodbath earlier this month.
“The CPM leadership had informed us about Lakshman Mondal’s disappearance. We inquired into it and found that he was somewhere in Sonachura. We did not progress any further,” said Ashok Dutta, the East Midnapore superintendent of police.
A senior officer, however, said the murder of Nandigram panchayat samiti member and Sonachura resident Sankar Samanta on January 6 was still fresh in the administration’s mind. “We’ll not take any hasty step that might put Lakshman in danger.”
The chief of the Kalicharanpur panchayat, Samerun Biwi, is also in hiding since January 3.
The administration, which has been planning a meeting with panchayat members to finalise a roster for the re-pair of roads dug up by the acquisition protesters, is now in a quandary. “With the chiefs of two key panchayats missing, there is a problem at hand,” an official said.
Link
Labels: Bengal, Nandigram, News
posted by Bimal 25.1.07,
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Villagers attack Tata workers in Orissa
17 January, 2007
Villagers attack Tata workers in Orissa
Land surveyors engaged by Tata Steel for its 6-mt plant at Kalinga Nagar were attacked on Wednesday by angry villagers whose lands have been acquired by the government.
The villagers, who have resorted to a road blockade, banning entry of vehicles into Kalinga Nagar for the past 12 months, reportedly launched a surprise assault on the surveyors with lathis and clubs. Two of the surveyors have sustained serious injuries and have been rushed to the SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack.
Jajpur collector Arabinda Padhi, who reached Kalinga Nagar soon after the incident, said the situation was under control. "A team engaged by the Tatas had gone to Kalamatia village to undertake some survey work without informing me or the SP, where they were suddenly attacked by nearly 20 to 25 people. The Sumo in which they had traveled was overturned.
The injured people received medical treatment locally and two of them were later shifted to Cuttack for further treatment," he added.
However, according to a senior Tata official, the surveyors were not employees of the company. "They do survey work for a number of steel projects in the area, including the Tatas," he said.
The attack took place a day after the state chief secretary convened a high-level meeting to discuss the impasse in Kalinga Nagar, where nearly a dozen steel plants are coming up. The Orissa High Court last week had directed the state government to immediately clear the road blockade, but the government is wary of using force against the agitated tribals.
Kalinga Nagar has been on the boil ever since 13 tribals were killed in police firing while protesting against the construction of a Tata Steel boundary wall on January 2, 2006.
Meanwhile, a new course curriculum is being introduced for the state police to cope with the displacement-related agitations across Orissa. According to Sanjeev Marik, director of the Biju Patnaik State Police Academy (BPSPA), "We have already introduced a new course - "Socio-Economic Change and Its Impact On Law Enforcement" - so that the officers are able to cope with the new problems arising out of industrialisation."
Apart from a road blockade at Kalinga Nagar, unofficial check gates have come up in Dhenkia, Nuagaon and Gadakujanga panchayats of the Jagatsinghpur district where land has been earmarked for the Posco steel project.
At $12 billion (Rs 51,000-crores), the Posco project is the biggest ever foreign direct investment in the country. Posco officials were also not allowed to undertake topographic and socio-economic survey of the area in Jagasinghpur district.
Link
Labels: Kalinganagar, News
posted by Bimal 17.1.07,
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JNU goes to Nepal House - Holiday after making history
JNU goes to Nepal House - Holiday after making history
Kathmandu, Jan. 16: “Jawaharlal Nehru University is going to run Nepal now,” remarked a Nepalese politician. That may not be entirely true but what prompted the remark was the induction of three new MPs — all from JNU — last night in the new interim parliament of Nepal.
Two of them — Amresh Singh and Hari Roka — are still completing their PhD in JNU. Singh expects to finish his thesis within a year at the School of International Studies.
Roka hopes to submit his thesis in the economics department by this July. The third, Bamdev Chetri, was assistant librarian in JNU before he was arrested by India for his Maoist links and closeness to another former JNU student, Baburam Bhattarai. He was deported to face the torture of King Gyanendra’s police.
Former foreign minister Chakara Prasad Bastola, himself a product of Banaras Hindu University (BHU), remarked: “The BHU-centred leadership of Nepal reflected the pre- and post-1947 reality. Calcutta, Patna and Allahabad universities also played a role in influencing the Nepalese leadership once. Today, that role is being played to some extent by JNU.”
Hari Roka, who was jailed at the age of 13 for seven years for participating in a demonstration, and Amresh are both familiar faces to those in Delhi who took any interest in Nepal.
“JNU expanded my horizons. It gave me the space to talk about democracy and freedom.
It is that experience which made some of us argue for negotiations between the political parties and the Maoists,” said Singh, who has been nominated by the Nepali Congress to parliament.
Not only did JNU change them but the Nepalese students also changed opinion about Nepal in India. Hari Roka, nominated by the Maoists as a civil society representative free from their party whip in parliament, can justifiably claim credit in this regard.
The author of several seminal analytical articles in the Indian press on the Nepalese democracy movement, Roka said: “Earlier the relationship with India was mediated through retired Indian bureaucrats who organised seminars on Nepal and pontificated in the media. Our political leaders and the Kathmandu elite forged close ties with them.
“We started writing in the Indian newspapers and forged a new kind of relationship with Indian intellectuals, political parties, journalists and editors. The Indian people realised what was really happening in Nepal.”
JNU also became the hub of Nepalese political activities after the king’s retrograde action in October 2002 of dissolving parliament and then his complete takeover on February 1, 2005.
“Not only Nepalese students but even the Indian students lent support to our democracy movement. Leaders like Baburam Bhattarai, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Mahant Thakur, Krishna Sitaula, Shekhar Koirala, Hridayesh Tripathi and Rajendra Mahato came to JNU,” Singh pointed out.
“All their meetings were held either in my room in Brahmaputra Hostel or in Hari Roka’s room in Sutlej Hostel,” he recalled.
Roka, who organised news conferences of leaders of Nepalese democracy in JNU, recalls how JNU’s professors helped open political doors for them. “How can we ever forget the support given to us by professors S.D. Muni, Anand Kumar, Kamal Mitra Chinoy, Anuradha Chinoy or the president of the JNU Teachers’ Association Roopamanjari Ghosh?” Singh said.
“Nepal needs good social scientists and experts on regional development. Indian universities like JNU must train Nepalese students on a preferential basis.” Roka said.
There are long-term benefits of helping Nepalese students study in Indian universities. “India does not recognise this. Today, our students are going to the US, China, Bangladesh and Pakistan as admission in Indian universities is very difficult. This cannot be good for India,” Bastola said.
“Those educated in India have goodwill towards it with no expectation of rewards. That relationship is very strong, very positive and very objective. Today, bureaucrats think that the Indian embassy here can generate goodwill. The chemistry of such ‘goodwill’ is very different from that which comes from being educated in India,” Bastola said.
Link
posted by Bimal 17.1.07,
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Two more top Maoists arrested
Two more top Maoists arrested
Five others taken in custody in Orissa earlier produced in Khammam court
KHAMMAM: Two more members of the CPI (Maoist) central technical committee were arrested by the police in Bhadrachalam on Tuesday evening while five others of the panel taken in custody in Orisssa four days ago were produced in a Khammam court.
Maoists — Dasaram Kanakaiah, Mula Devender Reddy, Salakula Saroja,
Anjamma and Devalia Husandi — being produced in a Khammam court
after their arrest in Rourkela.
OSD (Anti-naxalite Operations) L. S. Chouhan said here on Tuesday that Ivvi Mohan Reddy alias Umesh alias Mahesh alias Prakash and Jade Venkati alias Suresh alias Manganna, both CTC members of the CPI (Maoist), were found loitering around the temple town.
The police on surveillance took the two moving in suspicious circumstances in custody.
He explained that the two persons came to Charla on January 11 along with Siva Prasad Bhanu alias Surjit alias Dhaniram alias Satish Patil, 25, as part of their plan to reach a Maoist camp in South Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. Siva Prasad Bhanu, who was also a CTC member of the party, was arrested by the police in Charla while Mohan Reddy and Venkati gave the slip.
Based on the confessions made by Siva Prasad Bhanu, the weapons manufacturing units of the CPI Maoist in Orissa were raided and five members of the CTC- Mula Devender Reddy alias Dhanraj aliasd Madhab, Dasaram Kanakaiah alias Kiran, Salakula Saroja alias Swathi alias Deepa, Chintakindi Anjamma alias Sneha alias Aruna and Devalia Husandi- who were instrumental for the operations of the CTC in Orissa were arrested.
They were brought to Khammam on Monday and produced in the local court.
The revelations made by Tech Madhu have dealt a blow for the operations of the CPI (Maoist) technical committee, according to Dasaram Kanakawamy alias Kiran, CTC member arrested in Orissa along with four others.
Talking to mediapersons, Kanakaswamy said the Rourkela-based weapons unit was set up only three years ago and its operations were yet to take a full-fledged shape.
"We began with 12 bore gun and planned to upgrade in a phased manner."
Working in isolation
The CTC wing monitoring the operations in Orissa was working in isolation. It had little knowledge about the happenings outside Orissa.
There was hardly any information about the developments in Andhra Pradesh, he added.
Kanakaswamy said he joined the CPI (Maoist) way back in 1994 in Warangal and worked for the party in Pune and other places in Maharastra before being inducted into the technical committee of the party.
Mula Devender Reddy, another CTC member, said that the party could strengthen itself considerably in the Dandakaranya region while the party was not the same in Andhra Pradesh.
Labels: Andra pradesh, CPI(Maoist), News, Pictures
posted by Bimal 17.1.07,
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Protest against Tata
16 January, 2007
Bonnet brigade strikes, Tata team escapes
Singur/Calcutta, Jan. 15: A team of Tata and government officials was forced to leave Singur through an unplanned route today after being confronted by a group of people who thumped the bonnets of their cars and threatened to pull them out on their way to the city.
All doors of the two cars were locked and the panes rolled up. The hoodlums could not get hold of the officials.
Before the situation could spin out of control, the cars — escorted by a police jeep — backed away, took another route and left the place where the Tatas plan to set up their “dream project”.
In Calcutta, home secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray said the incident was not serious. “The protesters had surrounded their car and were trying to talk to them.”
Police said Suryavanshi Singh, a Tata official overseeing work on the Singur project, Apurba Banerjee of the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation and S. Bhattacharya, a senior consultant, went to the Gopalnagar panchayat office today.
They were returning to Calcutta after a meeting with the panchayat chief over a Jamshedpur trip by members of the rural body when a bunch of Save Farmland Committee members led by social activist Anuradha Talwar tried to block their way.
Kalyani Pal, the panchayat pradhan, said: “They are taking panchayat members to Tatanagar to show us their project and community development programmes. We are scheduled to leave tomorrow and the officials came here for a final word with us.”
Talwar and the members of the Save Farmland Committee were holding a meeting at Sanapara More when Becharam Manna, its convener, spotted two cars and a police jeep approaching the Durgapur Expressway. “Suddenly they became furious and ran in front of the cars. They first thumped the bonnet of the Ambassador in which Banerjee and Bhattacharjee were travelling,” said Asit Pal, the Hooghly additional superintendent of police.
“Another section of people led by Manna ran towards Singh’s Tata Indigo, which was behind the Ambassador. They started pulling the doors to drag out Singh when four policemen got off their jeep and took them on,” Pal added.
During the scuffle between the villagers and the police, the cars reversed and drove away.
Asked if all Tata teams visiting Singur were accompanied by police escorts, the home secretary said: “We give them police cover discreetly to ensure that such incidents don’t occur.”
A Singur police officer said that from the number of prot-esters, it did not look like a scheduled scheduled programme. “They saw the cars and decided to stop them.”
Banerjee has filed a complaint with the Singur police station against Anuradha.
Link
Labels: Bengal, Displacement, News, Singur
posted by Bimal 16.1.07,
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Well, India is still not shining for most Indians
15 January, 2007
Well, India is still not shining for most Indians
BY JONATHAN POWER
INDIA Shining” the slogan that lost the governing BJP party the election two and a half years ago, still has the ring of truth. The slogan may have backfired, igniting a backlash among India’s legions of poor who turned out at the polls in high numbers and put Congress back into power, but the fact is the Indian economy is shining, or as the Hindustan Times puts it on a billboard, “India rocks”. There can be little doubt that with its 8.5 per cent growth rate the country is on its way up.
Yet there is plenty of room for a critique of this capitalist growth that has replaced the Fabian socialism of India’s first post independence prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru and his daughter, Indira Gandhi. And no one makes it stronger that the current Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, the man who, as finance minister, in the early 1990s, with his policies of deregulation and lower taxation, set this enormous tiger out to run.
Those who’ve known Singh for a long time know that his heart has always beat on the left. (The penalty for being a long time friend is that while I can talk to him at length on any subject I must not quote him.) He may look tired these days but his old concerns about the injustice of the free market system are very much a constant preoccupation.
Market forces are all very necessary, he argues, but it is very hard for a government to counteract their bad side. The state has constantly to be vigilant on the side of the poor, but its success in this regard cannot be guaranteed. Yes, India is shining and rising. Because its growth is built on surer democratic and legal foundations it is likely before long to overtake China’s. As one western banker told me: “Thus far China grew fast because it had no law. But henceforth India will grow faster because it has law.” Democracy gives India the tool to absorb the stresses and strains of forward momentum.
Jharkhand is one of the poorest states of India and has become a test for the ability of this democracy to serve the poor. Rich in minerals it remains grossly underdeveloped. The jungles of its many mountains are home to 7 million indigenous who speak their tribal languages, worship the sun not Hindu gods, are rarely schooled and who live in dire poverty.
Three generations ago these hunters and gatherers were forcibly settled, but agriculture was foreign to them. It is not surprising that these people have produced Maoists guerrillas who have initiated a campaign of murdering middlemen and those government officials they suspect pocket development money allocated to their bailiwicks.
A local Congress MP, Ms Rebelo Merbelo, told me that the main problem is severe unemployment. “And the money allocated to change the situation simply runs away. We have a poor, unstable, state government here and although the central government wants to help it can’t just hand over more money that won’t be used well”.
Meanwhile, as the chief minister, Madhu Koda bluntly told me, “The situation with the Maoist extremists worsens. We have to look 100 years ahead. If we don’t do it right today there will be terrible problems in the future.” I met the chief minister on his 36th birthday and was introduced to other well-wishers, including an educated tribal, Dr Prakash Oraon, who runs the Jharlkland Tribal Development Society.
Well funded by both the central government and the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development, and backed by the chief minister, he has put together a fired-up group of young agricultural and community experts, all tribals themselves, who go into 300 of the villages and get development going.
We went together into some of the remoter villages. The transformation wrought by a couple of years of tenacious work was visible. In one village a new deep well replaced the old shallow inadequate one. A large pond had been dug to catch rainwater and provide for aquaculture. There was irrigation from the pond to fields planted with grains, quick growing rice and potatoes.
There was watershed management to stop the erosion off the steep slopes. The people still looked appallingly slight and young for adults — barely anyone here survives beyond middle age—but there is a light shining in their eyes when they talk about the transformation of their village economy.
The guerrillas, I’m told, don’t impede the project’s work. Like the local elephants they wander in and out at will, but unlike the elephants, not trampling good initiatives underfoot.
The political trick now for both Manmohan Singh and Madhu Koda is to find a way to quickly extend this work and undercut the Maoists’ appeal.
Link
Labels: CPI(Maoist), News
posted by Bimal 15.1.07,
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After ‘surrender’ drama, Bastar cops set free 19
Days after Naxal ‘surrender’ drama before CM, Bastar cops set free 19
Bastar, January 14: Ten days after Chhattisgarh organised a ‘Naxal surrender’ ceremony in the presence of Chief Minister Raman Singh and Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam, the police have quietly released 19 of the 79 who “surrendered” because the charges against them were found to be “frivolous”.
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The 19 people were told to leave the Dhanora police station premises last Thursday. Under pressure to crack down on Naxalites, the police tried to pump up “surrender” figures by detaining 19 villagers on charges of pasting posters, collecting firewood and cooking food for Maoists.
Police sources admitted that since “the 19 were not hardcore extremists, the administration thought it fit to release them”. Earlier, BJP MLA Mahesh Baghel and former Congress legislator Phulodevi Netam staged a dharna inside Dhanora police station where these people had been detained. This forced the police to move the remaining Naxals to Jagdalpur prison.
Rambharose Mandavi, the alleged commander of the surrendering Maoists, is an active Congress member from the block (his membership number is 3059). Mandavi was allegedly picked up to settle scores with his wife who happens to be the panch of Era village. “My husband has never been involved in any Naxal activity,” she claimed.
Phulodevi Netam, the former Congress MLA, alleged it was an attempt by the police to threaten the local party leadership. “The police are threatening people to surrender as Naxals, some officers want out-of-turn promotions,” she claimed.
BJP MLA Mahesh Baghel also claimed that several of those shown as “surrendered” Naxals were in fact BJP cadres. “Bastar police should check facts before staging such an event before the Chief Minister,” he said.
Villagers in Kondapakhna, from where five people had “surrendered”, were angry and named an SPO for threatening to fix them in false cases. “Will these people live in villages if they are really Maoists?” asked Bindo, whose son Santu has been sent to Jagdalpur prison. Relatives of others held also maintained that there were farmers who had no links with Naxals.
Relatives of Bissu Ram Gond, a resident of Bokrabeda, said that he had a two acre field on which he grew paddy but he agreed to the “surrender” ceremony because he wanted to make some quick money. “Police officers told him that he will get a thousand rupees if he is ready to be part of the surrendering party,” said Sonau Ram. The money was handed over to all “surrendering Naxals” at the ceremony by Chief Minister Raman Singh.
Mahesh, whose son Dharmu was one of the persons to be released, said that his family was in danger as the Naxals have already threatened the villagers that people who had taken part in the “surrender” ceremony will soon be deal with.
Chhattisgarh DGP O P Rathor said that the police does not need to explain why some people had been released days after the surrender. “We have a surrender policy under which we need to rehabilitate surrendering extremists.
While some Maoists are hardcore, some have been supporting them in a passive way. The entire episode is being twisted by some people who are trying to make political capital out of it,” he said.
Chief Minister Raman Singh, who had earlier described the surrender as a “historic event”, has already ordered IGP (Bastar Range) R K Vij to submit a detailed report to the state government.
Link
Labels: chhattisgarh, CPI(Maoist), News
posted by Bimal 15.1.07,
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Seven Naxalites arrested in Nagpur
Nagpur, Jan 15: As many as seven Naxalites were arrested in a joint operation by the police forces of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh in Gadchiroli district, Sahara Samay sources said today.
Acting on a tip off, the police team cordoned off the area where a Naxal camp was in progress. The ultras opened indiscriminate firing which was promptly returned by the police.
Seven Naxalites, who tried to flee from the camp, were chased and arrested. Naxal literature, tents and some other materials were also seized, the police said.
Link
Labels: CPI(Maoist), Maharashtra, News
posted by Bimal 15.1.07,
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No army action against Maoists: Antony
New Delhi, Jan 15 (IANS) The Indian Army, already bogged down with tackling insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and parts of the northeast, will not be sent in to tackle growing Maoist violence in the country, Defence Minister A.K. Antony asserted here Monday.
"It is not the job of the army to tackle the Naxalites (Maoists). This is something the state governments have to tackle," he maintained while speaking at a reception here on the occasion of Army Day."The Naxalite problem has to be tackled by the state police forces and the paramilitary forces," the minister added."At the most, the army can help with training and providing equipment.
But the operations have to be conducted by the states," he said.Roughly half of the 1.2 million-strong Indian Army is deployed on counter-insurgency duties and Antony maintained it was performing the task due to lack of an alternate mechanism to counter the problem."They are not happy doing this job but they have to because there is no one else to do it. When the police fails, and the paramilitary fails, the army is called in.
But we can't expect them to tackle Naxalism too," the minister said.The army chief, Gen. J.J. Singh, had spoken in a similar vein last week, saying the force could not be expected to take on additional responsibilities that detracted from its primary task of guarding the country's borders.
"On the Naxalite issue, we have all along being advising the home ministry that we would like to be helpful in every other way except active deployment," Singh had stated.Some 150 districts in a wide swathe from Bihar's border with Nepal and through Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh are affected by Maoist violence.
Speaking about other issues, Antony said he was awaiting a report he had commissioned on reducing instances of fratricidal killings and suicides that have reached alarming proportions in the army."Once the report comes, we will take whatever steps are necessary," the minister said.
The Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR) is expected to submit its report later this month.
Link
Labels: CPI(Maoist), News
posted by Bimal 15.1.07,
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Angry village women drove out Tata Motors team
Kolkata, Jan 15 :Angry village women Monday drove out a Tata Motors team when it visited Gopalnagar village in Singur, the focal point of protests against land acquisition for a car project in West Bengal.
Official sources in Singur, about 40 km from here in Hooghly district, confirmed the confrontation that took place in the afternoon though Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia here said he had no information of any major incident in the area.
The farmers' body in Singur, emboldened by the resistance shown by Nandigram villagers to the state government's land acquisition policy, said they would not allow Tata Motors in their villages at any cost.
The Tata team, along with officials of the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC) and the local block development office (BDO), had gone to Singur, which is still under Section 144, to discuss the plan to take a group of villagers to steel city Jamshedpur to showcase community development initiatives by the Tatas.
"Some Tata officials, including one Mr. Suryabanshi, had gone to the panchayat office in Gopalnagar but our women resisted them. They even threw slippers at the officials and heckled them," Becharam Manna of the Singur Krishijami Raksha Committee (Save Singur Farmland Committee) told IANS.Tata Motors has not reacted officially to the incident yet.
"There is no reaction so far," said a representative of the firm's public relations wing."You killed Tapasi Malik (a village girl who was burnt to death inside the fenced off land), you," the villagers told the cops and the officials as women shouted: "Go back Tata".The angry reaction was a result of a rumour that the company was planning to lay the foundation stone for the project.
Social activist Anuradha Talwar was also present during the confrontation.The Trinamool Congress, whose leader Mamata Banerjee had undertaken a 25-day fast against land acquisition in Singur last month, has an agitation programme in the area Tuesday.
Link
posted by Bimal 15.1.07,
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Maoists’ arrest a shot in police arms
Maoists’ arrest a shot in police arms
Statesman News Service ROURKELA, Jan. 14: The combined effort of police from Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, Rourkela and Sundergarh in particular, on time led to the arrest of five members of the “technical committee” of Naxalites here recently and the importance of the breakthrough could be gauged by the fact that several calls were pouring in from AP wanting to know whether a top leader called Ganapati was among those held.
Addressing the Press here, DS Kutte, the SP of Rourkela, said: “Based on Intelligence tip-off, we, along with a team from AP, unearthed a gun manufacturing unit being run by the PWG here for the past one-and-a-half years. We have managed to arrest five persons, including three women, also.” The police have seized 16.67 lakh rupees from them following two separate raids on two houses in Chhend residential area. A laptop computer and literature on gun manufacturing and Naxalites were also recovered from them.
A sizable amount of rifle parts (303) in knock down condition, lathe machine and some other instruments used in gun making were also seized. With the arrest of one Prakash alias Mahesh, a resident of Kharam district of AP, the police there stumbled upon this clandestine activity of the PWG, to augment its firepower, during the interrogation. Acting immediately on this information, a police team led by a DIG rushed to Rourkela.
With the help of the Rourkela and Sundergarh police, they raided the two houses, besides a fabrication unit in the Kalunga Industrial Estate. In the first raid at MIG-327, police arrested Swati alias Salakula alias Sipa (35). However, she managed to burn some vital documents before police could enter the house by breaking through the window. The police seized over Rs 10 lakh in cash, a laptop and gun making literatures from her. She is the wife of a Naxalite arrested by the Andhra police. She hails from Adilabad district.
Similarly, in a simultaneous raid on C3M-151, police arrested Sneha alias Aruna alias Sudha (22) and seized 6.67 lakhs in cash. Meanwhile, with the help of the Sundergarh police in similar raids, the police arrested Sangita alias Chandraka alias Debalia Husandi ( 33) from Farshatola under Brahmani Taranga police station. And M Devendra Reddy alias Karpara alias Madhab alias Dhanram (42) and Ajit Patel alias Dasaram alias Babaji alias Kiran were arrested from a fabrication unit named Utkala Engineering Works.
This was there façcade as they were showing to the world that they were manufacturing wardrobe and grills. Sneha and Ajit are married and hail from the Naxalite-infested Warangal district of AP, while Devendra and Sangita ~ also married ~ come from Radachiroli of Maharastra. However, one of their accomplices, Dinesh alias Dibakara (45), managed to escape during the raid.
These Naxalites are members of the Dandakaranya Zone, comprising Dantewada of AP, Radachiroli of Maharastra and Malkangiri of Orissa, Mr Praveen Kumar, the SP Sundergarh, said. They worked with the technical committee of the PWG and do not stay at a particular place for more than three years. Earlier, they were in Pune and were doing the same thing for the organisation.
They arrived in Rourkela around two years back and got involved in the same activity. However, the team was unable to manufacture the complete rifle, because they were unable to assemble the firing pin. Police said further investigation was needed to unearth all the details regarding procurement of the raw materials and supply of the finished products.
Link
Labels: CPI(Maoist), News, Orissa
posted by Bimal 15.1.07,
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Virasam for scrutiny of literature
Father of encounter victim inaugurates meet
KURNOOL: The two-day literary workshop (Sahithi Patasala) of Revolutionary Writers Association, popularly known as Virasam, began here on Saturday against the backdrop of "multiple setbacks to revolutionary movement."
Sunkanna, father of Laxmi, who was killed in an encounter in Prakasam district, inaugurated the meet while executive committee member of the Association Varavara Rao unveiled the plaque.
In his inaugural speech, State secretary of Virasam V. Chenchaiah recalled that after the Srikakulam armed struggle when many a revolutionary was either killed or arrested, the movement rose again like a violent wave out of nothing. He explained that it was not individuals who built movements but people.
He said any aberrations in society were first reflected in literature and writers gave vent to the feeling of oppressed society.
He said the movement of Revolutionary Writers Association made great contributions to literature by popularising local dialects and the language used by common people.
Also, the association moved from "social consciousness" to "social activism" and produced living literature.
He insisted that the members of the association should undertake scrutiny of contemporary literature through literary criticism apart from producing their own literature.
Link
Labels: Andra pradesh, News, Virasam
posted by Bimal 15.1.07,
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Four Maoists shot dead in Nalgonda
Four Maoists shot dead in Nalgonda
Exchange of fire with police; some Maoists escape, says SP
NALGONDA: In a major breakthrough, the Nalgonda police gunned down four Maoists in an `exchange of fire' on the outskirts of Yelamanagudem village, 45 km from the district headquarters town, on Saturday.
Superintendent of Police Vijay Kumar said that two to four Maoists might have managed to escape. "Luckily, they didn't hurl grenades on our police team before fleeing the spot," he said, adding that efforts were on to identify the bodies.
An AK-47, one carbine, one stengun, one tapancha, three grenades and kitbags were recovered from the spot but no policeman was injured in the "encounter." It is not clear whether the Maoists, who had suffered a series of blows in recent times, gathered there for a district committee meeting.
A combing (police) party came across them at 3.45 p.m. during a search operation. The police had specific information that eight Maoists had been moving in Gudipally area for the last four days, the SP said. He further maintained that the policemen had to retaliate when the Maoists opened fire on them.
Senior leader killed?
The four bodies were found in four different spots in a groundnut field at Yelamanagudem of Gurrampodu mandal. Currency bundles and newspaper clippings were seen near a body. The police believe that the Maoists have been taking shelter on a nearby hillock for the last three days.
Unconfirmed sources said that a senior second rung leader Betharaju Narasimha alias Mukku Ravi alias Janardhan of Mallareddygudem in Samsthan Narayanapur mandal was among those killed. The SP and the Officer on Special Duty A. Venkateswara Rao visited the spot.
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Labels: Andra pradesh, CPI(Maoist), News
posted by Bimal 15.1.07,
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Arms factory unearth: Red-alert in Madhya Pradesh
14 January, 2007
Arms factory unearth: Red-alert in Madhya Pradesh
BHOPAL: A red alert has been sounded across Madhya Pradesh after an illicit arms factory unearthed in the state capital three days ago and naxal links came to light.
Superintendent of Police Anant Kumar Singh said a red alert has been sounded following revelations of the links of the accused in the case with naxals.
Official sources said a red alert was sounded and security arrangements beefed up to counter any naxalite attempt to free the arrested.
Meanwhile, senior police officials from five states - Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh - and experts from School of Weapons, Mhow and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were interrogating the accused.
On receiving information that certain parts for the illegal factory were purchased from Indore, police were carrying out investigation.
Police unearthed few lathe machines, spares of fire arms and hand grenades, gun powder, cartridges and Naxalite literature from a house in Satnami Nagar in Piplani area here on January 11.
Link
Labels: CPI(Maoist), Madhya Pradesh, News
posted by Bimal 14.1.07,
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