Maoists observe Martyrs Week

Laxmanpur Bathe Monument

Jharkhand: State on high alert during Martyrs’ Week

RANCHI: High alert has been sounded across the state following intelligence inputs suggesting major strikes by the Maoists during “martyrs’ week” that began on Tuesday. Every year, the rebels observe Martyrs’ Week from July 28 to August 3.

Banners and posters were spotted in different districts of the state, including East and West Singhbhum, Bokaro, Latehar, Gumla and Simdega, asking the people to observe “martyrs’ week” and remember the sacrifices of Maoist leaders. Tuesday also marked the 37th death anniversary of Charu Majumdar, one of the founders of the Naxalite movement.

“These posters and banners have come to our notice. They could be a trap…The Maoists can ambush police parties when they go to remove the them,” said Jharkhand police spokesperson and IG (provision) S N Pradhan.

The IG said police have received inputs on Maoist mobilization in some areas and their plans to carry out big attacks there.

All SPs have been instructed to keep a watch on vulnerable pockets and not to unnecessarily venture out in Maoist-dominated areas. “We are trying to thwart any major strike by the Maoists and for that, every SP is being instructed to act accordingly,” said Pradhan.

Narayanpatna: Citizen group defends land struggle

BHUBANESWAR: A citizens team that visited Narayanpatna has strongly defended tribals forcibly occupying the land of non-tribals. “The land struggle by tribals is just

Maoists on their way to the Bhubaneswar rally.

and genuine, which needs support from one and all. It is an organized mass reaction against exploitation and torture by a small non-tribal minority who have gone there and grabbed tribal land on different pretexts in the last few decades,” team leader Prafulla Samantra of Lok Shakti Abhiyan said.

Narayanpatna and the adjoining Bandhugaon blocks in Koraput district have been in focus in the wake of tribals occupying the lands of non-tribals resulting in frequent violent clashes and deaths. Both the areas also have strong Maoist presence.

Close on the heels of the recent land grabbing agitation nine police personnel, including eight special security force, were killed in landmine blast by the Left-wing extremists. This has given rise to speculation that the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS), which has been spearheading the land acquisition movement, is a frontal organization of the extremists. More than 150 non-tribal families have since fled Narayanpatna area in the face of alleged harassment and threat to their lives by CMAS activists.

Over 1,200 Maoist related incidents this year

New Delhi, July 29 (PTI) A total of 1,217 incidents of naxal violence took place in the country this year, claiming 508 lives, including that of 233 security force personnel. The information was given by Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today. "The available inputs do not indicate that naxals are getting help from elements outside India," the Minister said. In 2008, a total of 1,591 naxal incidents were reported in which 490 civilians and 231 security force men were killed. Whereas in 2007, 460 civilians and 236 security force jawans lost their lives in over 1,560 naxal related incidents. "State Governments deal with various issues related to naxalite activities in the States. The Central Government supplements their efforts in several ways. PTI

West Bengal: Battle heads north, CPIM activist killed

A CPM supporter was killed and two others were injured when they were allegedly attacked by bandh enforcers in Jalpaiguri district on Tuesday.

The CPI(ML)’s Mahadev Mukherjee faction had called a bandh in Naxalbari and Siliguri region today to mark the death anniversary of CPI-ML founding member Charu Mazumdar, who died while in jail after being arrested by Kolkata Police in July 1972.

The killing of Ananda Das (28) at Tantidoba set off fear among the CPM in the region. Former CPM MP and Jalpaiguri Sadar zonal committee secretary Jiten Das said such violence had never taken place in the past three decades when this day was observed by the CPI-ML with a bandh. “It seems like the winds from South Bengal are blowing this way,” Das said, referring to the attacks on CPM men by Maoists in affected districts like West Midnapore and Purulia.

“Ananda was a member of our youth wing, the DYFI. He runs a small shop in his village. This morning, he went with some friends to open his shop when several CPI-ML supporters turned up and asked him to keep his shop closed. An argument ensued and the CPM supporters were attacked with sharp weapons. Ananda died on the way to the North Bengal Medical College & Hospital,” Das said.

Jalpaiguri SP Anant Kumar said so far three persons have been arrested in connection with the murder. He said the injured, Sudhanshu Burman and Dwijen Roy, were recovering in a hospital. “Raids are going on in the area. The assailants have fled into the forests across the Teesta canal. This is the first time such violence has erupted on this day. We are investigating all angles,” Kumar said.

CPM sources said the area, including a large part of the forests, have been encircled by party cadres and supporters in a bid to nab the culprits. Senior police officers said CPM supporters were involved in the police search. They added that the CPM men had been asking villagers in the area to open their shops in defiance of the bandh call, when the bandh enforcers landed up armed with sharp weapons. A scuffle broke out between the CPM men and CPI-ML (Mahadev Mukherjee) supporters during which Das received severe injuries on his abdomen.