Separatist Insurgencies in India - News and Discussions.

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Maoists regrouping in West Bengal:

New Delhi, Jul 10 (PTI) With joint-security operations virtually at a standstill in West Bengal, Maoists have started regrouping and recruiting cadres in the eastern state, intelligence inputs point.

The inputs received by the Home Ministry from three West Bengal districts -- West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia -- have suggested that the Naxals have been able to lure a sizable number of youths and recruit them for armed training. The recruitment drive and activities of the Maoists have intensified after Mamata Banerjee took charge as the chief minister since her government favoured talks with the ultras and virtually suspended all operations against them.

Besides, the three West Bengal districts have become meeting and shelter points for Naxals operating in neighbouring Orissa, Jharkhand and Bihar, they said.

There have been reports that 'village defence squads' were being formed by Naxal supporters in many villages and extortion notices reportedly served to many businessmen and CPI(M) sympathisers.

Central security agencies were also worried over the Trinamool Congress government's proposal to release 46 "political prisoners" -- most of whom were Maoists sympathisers -- as it would give more ammunition to the Naxals to regroup and revive snapped contacts, they said. PTI

 

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Five homeguards resign fearing Maoist attacks:

Koraput (Orissa), Jul 9 (PTI) Five homeguards of Machkund police station in Orissa's Koraput station resigned today fearing Maoist attacks.

This comes less than 48 hours after the gunning down of a homeguard in the district by Maoists at Onkadeli haat, about 85 km from here during daylight hours.

The homeguards tendered their resignation to the inspector in-charge of Machkund police station during the day.

There is no security and we don’t want to continue. The Maoists may target us at any moment. So, we don’t wish to continue in our posts. It’s better to resign from the job and to look for some other alternative," said one of the homeguards after putting in his papers.

IIC Machkund, D J Barik confirmed the resignations and said "We have informed our higher ups about the matter for necessary action."

A few months ago Maoists had put up posters at various places in the district asking homeguards to quit their jobs as they were suspected to act as police informers.

In another incident, traffic was hit between Orissa and Andhra Pradesh when Maoists put up road blockades at Almonda, about 100 km from here, by felling trees on Saturday.

Maoist posters near the blockade site have demanded the withdrawal of para-military forces from the area and observance of protest week from July 4-10. PTI

 

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Maoists kill one, release 5 other abducted villagers:

Malkangiri (Orissa), Jul 8 (PTI) Maoists today killed one of the six abducted villagers whom they had taken into captivity from Potteru village in Orissa's Malkangiri district on Tuesday night, police said.

The victim was identified as Subas Bandami, a former cadre of CPI (Maoist), said Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Anirudha Singh.

While four others were released by the ultras last night, another person had been reportedly freed.

However, the last person Suresh Bandami, a ward member, was yet to arrive at the village, the police said.

Singh said the victim had quit the outfit since sometime and had been in contact with the local police for a formal surrender.

A poster seized from near the body said that Subas was killed for working as an informer to the police.

Six persons were abducted by Maoists from Potteru village, about 85 km from here.

The Maoists made all six appear before a kangaroo court, before setting four free, police said.

Meanwhile, chief minister Naveen Patnaik condemned the incident in Bhubaneswar and said that stringent action would be taken against the culprits involved in the "terrible" crimes. PTI

 

[majesticpankaj]

Naxal fight takes development route

NEW DELHI: Maoist-affected districts across the country might have seen years of neglect by successive governments, but a new Central scheme - Integrated Action Plan (IAP) - under the UPA-II is fast filling up the 'critical gap' in those 'deficit zones' through taking up a number of development projects.

As many as 67,072 basic infrastructure projects across 60 districts in nine states have been taken up at Rs 2,740 crore in the past seven months ever since the IAP was launched by the Centre in last December.

The scheme, jointly supervised under the Planning Commission and the Union home ministry, is being implemented with 100% block grant of Rs 25 crore and Rs 30 crore per district during the year 2010-11 and 2011-12, respectively. The allocated funds are placed at the disposal of a district-level committee, comprising collector, SP and district forest officer, which identifies and implements the development and infrastructure projects.

By cutting down red tape and fixing responsibility with the district administration, the IAP could see implementation of various kinds of developmental works ranging from getting scooter ambulance for villages to setting up anganwadi centres, school buildings, heath centres and drinking water facilities.

Buoyed by the freedom to spend money, the district administrations in many states have come out with unique solutions to meet local aspirations.

Scooter ambulance to take patients to nearby road innovated by Bastar district (Chhattisgarh) and mobile ambulances for minor operations on the way to a nearby hospital by Ghadchiroli administration (Maharashtra) have delivered to win back people's confident in government.

Other districts too want to replicate the unique proposal to beat the handicap of road connectivity in these far-flung areas. Earlier patients were transported in carts, leading to causalities before reaching hospital. Many districts in naxal-hit districts of Bihar have come out with a unique proposal for generating power rice husk with support of the Centre's non-renewal energy ministry.

In backward areas of Chhattisgarh, district authorities are trying to provide solar electricity to the villagers without any regular power connection.

What has worked wonders are flexibility in utilizing money and fixing of accountability at local level of the district committee, which is responsible for conceptualization and implementation of works while considering the specific needs of the district.

"To speed up the development process in these backwards areas, it was decided to give money directly to the district," said Plan panel member secretary Sudha Pillai, who is keeping a close watch on development works in these areas and holds periodic review meeting with collectors through video-conferencing.

As far as 'physical progress' of the 67,072 projects under IAP in nine states during December 2010-June 2011 is concerned, Maharashtra tops the chart having completed 69.49% of the works, followed by Uttar Pradesh (68.41%), West Bengal (40.59%), Chhattisgarh (32.9%), Orissa (30.63%), Andhra Pradesh (20.73%), Jharkhand (19.13%), Bihar (12.92%) and Madhya Pradesh (7.89%).

The latest Planning Commission data shows that the maximum funding under the IAP schemes went into setting up of school buildings (10,630) followed by drinking water and drainage facilities (10,445 works), electric lighting (10,210), anganwadi centres (9,757) and rural roads (6,083).

Along with ensuring basic services, the Plan panel has been pushing hard to ensure mobile and telephone connectivity in these districts. It also lobbied hard to get norms relaxed for carrying out developmental works in these districts, including allowing diversion of up to five hectares of forest land without approval and allowing construction of bridges up to 75 meters under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana - instead of 50 meters in other districts - and providing subsidy of up to Rs 48,000 for construction of homes for the poor under the Indira Vikas Yojana.

Naxal fight takes development route - The Times of India

 

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Naxalism spreading to big cities: Maharashtra Home Minister

Pune, Jul 9 (PTI) Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil today advised parents in big cities to keep a watch on their children to ensure they do not get drifted towards Naxalism.

"As Naxalism is percolating in many big cities, parents should keep a watch on their children," he said here.

Left-wing extremism was a challenge before the government, he said, adding every section of the society should help the state administration in effectively tackling the menace.

Patil was speaking at a function, where he released the book, ''Challenges of Naxalism'', written by Devendra Gavande.

 

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IED blast caused derailment of Guwahati-Puri Express: Railways

Guwahati, Jul 11 (PTI) An improvised explosive device was used to trigger the blast that led to the derailment of the Guwahati-Puri Express in Kamrup district in Assam that left 100 passengers injured, officials said today.

Railway PRO Nripendra Bhattacharya said the explosion led to the engine and eight coaches jumping the rails at around 8:30 last evening at Dhatkuchi between Rangia and Ghagrapar in the district.

Four of the coaches toppled over and fell into a three feet water-filled ditch following the explosion, he said.

A large crater beside the tracks and a huge length of fuse wire leading to a jungle were found by the Bomb Disposal Squad after the derailment.

A senior police officer said it appeared to be the handiwork of the Ranjan Daimary-led National Democratic Front of Bodoland anti-talk faction, active in the area.

The officer said at least 100 passengers were injured who were admitted to the Guwahati Medical College and Hospital.

Of the injured, 41 were in a serious condition, hospital sources said.

Railway officials are supervising restoration operations at the spot with 300 labourers at work, the officer said.

A special train with 800 passengers of the Guwahati-Puri Express left Guwahati for Puri at 5:30 this morning. PTI

 

[SpArK]

Two Maoists caught in Keonjhar dist​

KEONJHAR: Two persons were arrested for their alleged links with Maoists in two joint operations by Keonjhar and Jajpur police on Sunday.

The two were identified as Dactar Munda (23) of Somgiri village near Harichandanpur and Suresh Munda (45) of Panga in the Telkoi police station area.

Police said Dactar was arrested from Sapua forest in the Pandapada police station area. IIC (Harichandanpur) AK Mishra said, "Maoist posters and other objectionable documents were seized from Dactar. He was working as courier for the Maoists."

Similarly, Munda was caught with two Maoist posters at Olong. "The accused had joined the Red rebels six months ago. He worked as a courier for Maoist leaders Sushil and Sunil. He was also involved in pasting Maoist posters," said OIC (Telkoi police station) S Jena.

The two accused were caught within a week of two similar arrests by Keonjhar and Jajpur police.

Two Maoists caught in Keonjhar dist - The Times of India

 

[majesticpankaj]

ULFA announces ceasefire with govt forces

In a development that signals the beginning of political dialogue with the United Liberation Front of Asom faction led by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa in a short time, the pro-talks ULFA group on Tuesday formally declared 'ceasefire' with the security forces.


The faction's 'chairman' Arabinda Rajkhowa issued a statement declaring ceasefire with the government, several months after the peace process was initiated. The declaration reflects the advancement in the process aimed at putting an end to decades of bloody conflict in Assam.

"Respecting the desire of the people of Assam for a peaceful solution of the ongoing conflict, the General Council has decided to begin political negotiations with the government and has empowered the chairman of ULFA to declare a ceasefire," Rajkhowa said in a press release.

A spokesman of the ULFA faction said that the outfit expected a prompt and positive response from the government to its declaration so that a formal agreement of ceasefire could be initialed between the two parties soon.

An informal ceasefire was on, ever since the pro talks faction agreed to sit for talks with the government. Operations by security forces have remained suspended and ULFA cadres supporting the move have been stationed at a place near Nalbari.

The proposal for a formal ceasefire similar to the agreements arrived at with other militant outfits in the region was mooted by the government soon after the first round of talks was held last March.

However issues such as allowance and deposition of arms delayed the process, since both sides had divergent opinions.The spokesman said that the modalities of the ceasefire would be chalked out in consultation with the government. Usually, as seen with other insurgent groups, the agreement is for six months which is renewed periodically.

Meanwhile, informed sources said that ULFA has decided to usher in "cosmetic changes" to the charter of demands prepared by the Sanmilita Jatiya Abhibartan, a nine member group of civil society leaders and intellectuals in the state.

After the changes are made, the charter will be placed before the government.

The first round of talks is expected towards the end of this month. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi [ Images ] has been claiming that the peace process with the ULFA faction is on the right track.

ULFA's chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, deputy commander-in-chief Raju Barua, finance secretary Chitrabon Hazarika, foreign secretary Sasadhar Choudhury and cultural secretary Pranati Deka were arrested in Bangladesh and handed over to Indian forces in December 2009.

They were subsequently released on bail by a court in Guwahati after the state government did not contest their bail petition after the ULFA leaders had agreed to sit for unconditional talks.

ULFA announces ceasefire with govt forces - Rediff.com India News

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Surrender your guns, Mamata tells Maoists

West Bengal [ Images ] Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee [ Images ] on Tuesday asked Maoists to join the mainstream by laying down arms and promised that her government would provide them compensation and take care of their families.


"Surrender your guns. You will get compensation and the government will take care of your families. Stop individual killings. If you have to take up arms, take it up for the country," she told a public rally in Jhargram on her first visit to 'junglemahal' after becoming chief minister.

"Friends, return to the mainstream and the government will look after you. I have faced guns. Which is mightier, guns or the people? If there is no peace, development cannot take place. You cannot procure food with guns," Banerjee said.

"Help rebuild junglemahal by creating an atmosphere of peace and security," she said.

Referring to the potential of junglemahal, comprising West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia districts and its greenery, she said it has to be tapped for overall development of the area and violence should cease.

"If there is no peace, who will come forward to work for you? It is the prerequisite to work for peace to help rebuild junglemahal."

Banerjee, who had campaigned vigorously for the withdrawal of joint forces from junglemahal in the run-up to the May assembly elections, indicated that the central paramilitary forces would stay on.

"The joint forces will not harm people. They will not act against the innocent. Those doing no wrong have nothing to fear from the joint forces," she said at Nayagram earlier.

"I want people to return to their homes and not hide in jungles. I want the police to treat the people with respect," Banerjee said.

She announced compensation of Rs one lakh each to women who were victims of police atrocities in 2008. Maoists had set off a landmine at Salboni in the district when former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee [ Images ] was returning in a convoy in November, 2008.

Subsequent police raids triggered protests leading to the formation of the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities and the start of the problems in junglemahal.

Announcing packages and projects for junglemahal, she said rice at Rs two a kg would be provided to those with an annual income up to Rs 42,000, annually.

The state government, she said, would increase the number of old age pensioners from 8,809 to 75,205 and also provide cycles to school girls from class IX to XII.

The chief minister said that a decision has been taken to provide jobs to 10,000 persons from junglemahal in the police and national volunteer force besides in special police constable posts.

"They will work directly under the home department," she said, adding jobs will also be given to 1,800 Santhali-speaking people.

Surrender your guns, Mamata tells Maoists - Rediff.com India News

 

[Don Jaguar]

Two Maoists caught in Keonjhar dist​

KEONJHAR: Two persons were arrested for their alleged links with Maoists in two joint operations by Keonjhar and Jajpur police on Sunday.

The two were identified as Dactar Munda (23) of Somgiri village near Harichandanpur and Suresh Munda (45) of Panga in the Telkoi police station area.

Police said Dactar was arrested from Sapua forest in the Pandapada police station area. IIC (Harichandanpur) AK Mishra said, "Maoist posters and other objectionable documents were seized from Dactar. He was working as courier for the Maoists."

Similarly, Munda was caught with two Maoist posters at Olong. "The accused had joined the Red rebels six months ago. He worked as a courier for Maoist leaders Sushil and Sunil. He was also involved in pasting Maoist posters," said OIC (Telkoi police station) S Jena.

The two accused were caught within a week of two similar arrests by Keonjhar and Jajpur police.

Two Maoists caught in Keonjhar dist - The Times of India

You posted news about maoist before "bilalhaider"

Well done you should be given pride of performance!!!

 

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PLFI cadres kill civilian in Jharkhand:

Times of India reports that a local contractor-cum-trader was killed by cadres of the People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a break away faction of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), at his shop in Patratoli village of Raidih Police Station in Gumla District on July 10. The victim, identified as Baleshwar Sahu (45), had a grocery shop at Patratoli adjacent to Raidih Police Station. A note left behind by the PLFI bearing the name of ‘area commander’ Durjan Singh alias Amar was found at the spot read that Sahu was killed because he did not pay INR 500, 000 to the outfit. Sahu a resident of Sanyakona village had shifted with his family to Patratoli.

Meanwhile, the Maoist cadres dug deep trenches at seven different locations along two major roads connecting two villages Sidki Satvahini and Kaura-Ghorighat under Pratappur Police Station area in Chatra District late in the night of July 11, reports Ranchi Express. According to sources, the Maoists using JCB machines dug trenches and cut the link roads during the late hours from 8pm till mid-night. Due to the destruction of the roads the traffic from Gaya District in Bihar and around 50 villages of the District got disrupted.

Separately, during a three-day tour, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General K Vijay Kumar visited frontal CRPF camps in the State at Lodhai village in the dense Saranda forest of West Singhbhum and Churchu in Hazaribagh District. He appreciated the efforts of troopers and officials who were involved in the operation which neutralised the headquarters of Koel Sankh zone of CPI-Maoist in Latehar on July 4-6. "The Latehar operation was the one of the best coordinated ones with the District Police that led to huge success. More similar operations will be carried out in other parts of the State," said Kumar.

 

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Explosives recovered in Assam:

Sentinel reports that Security Forces (SFs) on July 11 recovered 39 detonators from the house of Nurul Huda Laskar and Nur Ahmed Laskar at Matijuri in Hailakandi District.

Meanwhile, Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) took responsibility for the July 10 killing of Babul Rongmei, ‘Chairman’ Barak Valley Hill Tribes Development Council, at Sabadashpur in Cachar District.

Separately, ‘chairman’ of Anti-talks Faction of United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-ATF), Paresh Barua, condemned blast that derailed the Guwahati-Puri Express at Bhatkuchi in Kamrup (Rural) District on July 10, reports Times of India.

 

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Maoists turn down dialogue offer by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

According to a Times of India report on July 13 the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) have rejected Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's dialogue offer to barter development with the surrender of arms. In a press release issued from Purulia, Maoist leader Bikram reminded the CM that Junglemahal remained more peaceful than elsewhere in the State since the change of guard in May, while "the CPM harmads and the green harmads of Trinamool Congress kept fighting among themselves in the rest of the state. She is asking us to lay down arms. But we want the harmads of all shades to surrender to the people," wrote Bikram. The Maoist leader further said: "The chief minister had promised that she won't come to Junglemahal with guns, but with development package. Mamata has gone back on her promise. She has been doing this everywhere - in Singur, Nandigram and Junglemahal."

 

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Six injured in explosion in J&K:

Srinagar, Jul 13 (PTI) At least six people were injured today when an explosive device went off in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said.

"Six people have been injured in the explosion but all of them are out of danger. The explosion has probably been caused by a grenade left in the area after a recent encounter," Senior Superintendent of Police for Pulwama Amit Kumar told PTI. "Six people have been injured in the explosion but all of them are out of danger. The explosion has probably been caused by a grenade left in the area after a recent encounter," Senior Superintendent of Police for Pulwama Amit Kumar told PTI.

Two militants, including a Jaish-e-Mohammad commander, were killed in a 20-hour gunbattle which also left an army officer injured in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir last week. PTI

 

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Two personnel injured in J-K encounter:

Srinagar, July 15 (PTI) Two security forces personnel were injured today in an encounter with militants holed up in a house in Lolab in Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said here.

Troops of 18 Rashtriya Rifles of the Army and special operations group of local police launched a search-cum-cordon operation in Maidanpora village in Lolab, 120 kms from here, in the wee hours today following information about presence of foreign militants, the sources said.

There was no exchange of firing between the two sides as security forces wanted to ensure that all civilians are out of the building before start of an offensive.

While the menfolk had come out of the house soon after the security forces laid the cordon, the wife of the house owner and his daughter were trapped inside for more than an hour, the sources said.

The girl came out first from the house followed by her mother half-an-hour later, they said. As the woman came out to safety, the sources said, security forces began engaging the militants.

Two security force personnel have been injured so far in the gun battle which was going on till reports last came in, they added.

According to inmates of the house, five militants including a top commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba, are holed up in the house. PTI

 

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3 militants & 1 army jawan killed, 4 army jawans injured:

Fri-15-Jul-2011, Srinagar

Srinagar, July 15 (PTI) Three militants and an Army jawan were killed and four security personnel injured today in a fierce gunbattle in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, officials said here.

Three militants were eliminated in the encounter which also left an Army jawan dead, a senior police official said, adding the encounter was on till late afternoon.

He said four security personnel were also injured in the exchange of fire.

Troops of 18 Rashtriya Rifles and special operations group of local police launched a search-cum-cordon operation in Maidanpora village in Lolab, 120 km from here, in the wee hours today following information about the presence of foreign militants, sources said.

There was no immediate exchange of firing between the two sides as security forces wanted to ensure that all civilians were out of the building before the operation was started.

While the menfolk had come out of the building soon after the cordon was laid, the wife of the house owner and his daughter were trapped inside for more than an hour, they said.

The girl came out first from the house followed by her mother half-an-hour later, they said. Security forces engaged the militants after the two came out safely.

According to inmates of the house, five militants including a top commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), were holed up in the house. PTI