Maoists plan to re-launch movement

16 April 2012

biswabrata goswami
MIDNAPORE, 16 APRIL: Maoists plan to re-launch their movement with “renewed vigour” as a part of their regrouping process in Junglemahal.
The rebels recently held a secret meeting at Kanimohuli village in Jamboni in Jhargram which borders neighbouring Jharkhand. The meeting was held on Saturday when the rebels had called a 48-hour bandh in districts along the inter-state borders of Jharkhand, Bengal and Odisha demanding a hike in prices of kendu leaves, a source of livelihood for tribals in summer. According to sources close to the organisation, 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 Jayanta, a resident of a village which is near  Kanimohuli. This apart, many other leaders who are active in Jharkhand had attended the meeting, a Central Intelligence agency officer said.
As Maoists are now on the defensive in West Bengal following the death of their Politburo leader Kishenji in an encounter with the security forces in November last, they have now consolidated themselves in Jharkhand and Odisha. To reactivate their movements in Junglemahal, the rebels had earlier held a similar meeting at Laboni forest in Belpahari in West Midnapore where senior leader Kishenji had led the meeting.
Sources in the Intelligence agencies said: “The rebels in Saturday'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 the movement will be carried out peacefully.” The rebels are demanding a 20 per cent hike in the prices of kendu leaves, which are used for manufacturing bidi. Two types of kendu leaves are sold: dry and raw.
At present, raw kendu leaves are priced at Rs 60 per bundle and the dry leaf at Rs 120. Each bundle contains 2,000 leaves. Sources said Maoists are demanding that the government pay Rs 70 and Rs 140, respectively, for every bundle of raw and dry kendu leaves.
Meanwhile, as Maoist-hit states like Jharkhand and Odisha have stressed the need for a coordinated action against the rebels, the West Bengal government has already sent the elite CoBRA (Combat Battalion for Resolute Action) force, especially trained for jungle warfare, from Junglemahal.
The decision to assist the neighbouring states was taken recently based on the fact that Maoist activitiy in Junglemahal is not so strong now as it was in the past three years.