Now, Maoists to take up farmers’ issue

5 January 2012

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 5 JAN: Set back by the killing of senior Maoist leader Kishenji in an encounter with the security forces in West Midnapore on 24 November, Maoist leaders are trying to re-launch their movement with “renewed vigour” as a part of their regrouping process in Junglemahal.
A group of Maoist leaders held a secret meeting at Laboni forest in Belpahari in West Midnapore last night. According to sources close to the outfit, those present included: Maoist central committee leader Prasanta Bose, alias Kishanda; Sabyasachi Panda, a newly appointed leader for West Bengal; the party's state secretary of Odisha, Ashim Mondol, alias Akash; and Madan Mahato.
In a bid to win back the faith of the villagers, the top Maoist leaders decided to launch a movement against the delayed procurement of paddy by the state government and the low minimum support price of paddy fixed by the Centre.
"This decision taken in the meeting was immediately conveyed to the leaders in Junglemahal. Accordingly, a section of villagers especially farmers had taken plans to gherao the Belpahari police station today, but they were restricted by the security forces as the Intelligence agencies informed them about the plans,” an officer of the Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) told The Statesman. Sources in the Intelligence agencies said: “The rebels in yesterday's meeting had mainly concentrated their discussion on the re-establishment of their bases among the tribal populace in Junglemahal. They have come to a point that they will not launch any individual killing, if there is no need to do it."
Admitting this decision, a Maoist leader said, “We will now give priority on vital issues which mainly concern poor people, farmers and tribals. This time, we will launch movement for the sake of Junglemahal people and obviously movements will be carried out peacefully.” Sources monitoring Maoists activities in Junglemahal and Jharkhand said that Panda would enjoy enormous freedom in reorganising the rebels in Junglemahal and, if necessary, he would be able to take independent decisions.
Panda, who had established People's Liberation Front in Odisha, is considered to be the most ferocious present Maoist leader. In order to prove his presence, Panda has started formulating strategy to declare war against the government, sources in Intelligence agencies said.
However, faced with an aggressive government campaign against the wanton killings that have become the hallmark of their strategy, and against their sympathisers, the Maoists seem to be engaged in a re-evaluation of using violence in the “class struggle”.
Indications of a possible change in their stance come at a time when both the Centre and the state government have been aggressively attacking intelligentsia, supporters and human rights activists for espousing the Maoist cause, branding them as mere terrorists who have no ideological backing.
In a re-think of the strategy of "individual killings," a section of Maoists is trying to stress mass movement by reviving its defunct organisations and forming units in new sectors based on priority, a senior police officer said.
CID custody for CPM leader
MIDNAPORE, 5 JAN: A CPI-M leader, who was arrested in connection with the Salboni skeleton recovery case, was remanded in CID custody for five days today. A karmadhakshya of Salboni panchayat, Mr Narayan Singh, was arrested by  CID sleuths last night from his hideout at Chawktarini in Salboni. According to CID officials, Mr Singh was an accused in the murder of Jaggeswar Mahato, Trinamul Congress Salboni block president, in January 2010. The CID has arrested 13 out of 26 accused CPI-M leaders in this connection so far. sns