Maoists plan to strengthen students’ front

15 November 2011

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 15 NOV: Maoist rebels, who are active in parts of Junglemahal in West Midnapore for the past three years, are now planning to strengthen its students’ organisation, called Chhatra Samaj, to mobilise tribal students to fight for their rights and welfare activities.
The reactivation of Chhatra Samaj is being seen as a part of a comprehensive strategy taken by the Maoists to revive its now defunct mass organisations, which had helped spread radical activities.
Information collected from different sources indicates that the Maoist strategy is to gain a foothold among the tribal populace in the forest areas first before spreading their activities to other parts of the state. The Maoist area committees, consisting of five to seven armed rebels, have already completed the task of identifying the issues on which movement can be launched.
According to local residents, some area committees in Jhargram have decided to take up the issue of corruption at the Centre, lack of facilities for students, scarcity of teachers in tribal residential schools, unemployment problem among educated tribal youth, withdrawal of security forces from Junglemahal and release of political prisoners from different jails.
“Though the Maoists are virtually engaged in guerrilla war against the security forces in Junglemahal, they are now trying to strengthen its various mass organisations, including the students’ front, to launch mass movement against the state government with an eye to mobilise more people from different sections of the society," said a local resident.
Sudam Kisku (name changed on request), a Class VIII student in Jhargram, said: “Some elders of my locality have asked me to lead the Chhatra Samaj in our school. They have asked me to encourage students about the demands and revolutionary activities of the Maoists."
Asked about the activities of the Maoist-backed students’ front, Mr Alok Rajoria, additional superintendent of police, Jhargram, said: “I am aware of the existence of Chhatra Samaj, but it is still not operational here."
A senior police officer in Salboni, who often leads operations against the rebels, said: “The students who are involved with Chhatra Samaj mainly act as informers of the Maoists. But, it is very difficult to arrest them as they are all students.”
A Maoist leader, who declined to reveal his identity, however, said: “Every political party has several mass organisations. So, we have also built many frontal organisations for different sections of people.”
Reports of several Intelligence agencies reveal that more than 1,000 tribal students are associated with the Chhatra Samaj, but this students’ front is active mainly in Jhargram sub-division of West  Midnapore. 
Experts on Maoist insurgency, however, said: “Maoists have built students’ front in the tribal area, but they are trying to bring them into the arm struggles which are absurd in respect to the present socio-economic pattern. Students may raise their voice against some social issues, including their demands, but they will not be involved in armed struggles with the Maoists."