Maoists target only corrupt people: Jharkhand Governor K Sankaranarayanan

Maoists at a memorial for those killed in police encounters in the Nallamalla forest, south of Hyderabad.

RANCHI: The Governor had recently said that Maoists target only corrupt people. Reacting to that, Sinha said by issuing such statements, Sankaranarayanan has branded all martyrs and political leaders killed by Maoists as corrupt. “It is unfortunate that a person of Governor’s stature could issue such a deplorable statement. He must give an explanation and abstain from glorifying the outlaws,” Sinha said at a press conference here on Monday.

He further stated that such statements would only encourage Maoists and hamper police morale on the other. “No policeman would dare sacrifice his life once he realises that the government will brand him as corrupt if killed by Maoists,” said Sinha.

The former Union finance minister even accused Congress of patronising corrupt officials to divert NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) funds for election expenses. “At a recent meeting with district officials, the government agreed that around Rs 1,000 crore under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act was surrendered. It is shameful and the governor should be held responsible for this,” he said.

Maoists trying to forge alliance with NE Nationality Movements: PC

Agencies, New Delhi, Sept 14:
Indicating a new security challenge, the CPI(Maoist) has been trying to forge alliance with secessionist and terrorist elements, Home Minister P Chidambaram said on Monday. Inaugurating a three-day conference of Directors General and Inspectors General of police organised by Intelligence Bureau, he said the move of the Maoists has been taken in a bid to expand their network and influence.

“It has been keenly seeking ideological resonance and tactical understanding with the Northeast insurgents and has begun to lend support to their secessionist ideology and demands,” he said.

The Home Minister said Left wing extremism purports to be a radical form of communism and today, various groups adhering to this outdated ideology have their pockets of influence in 20 states across the country. “Over 2,000 police station areas in 223 districts in these states are partially or substantially affected by the menace,” he said.

Lalgarh: Maoist kid soldiers on the ground

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Midnapore, Sept. 14: Boys with guns but hardly any facial hair shot dead a local CPM leader this morning at Salboni near Lalgarh, with horrified villagers saying some of the attackers looked “as young as 14”.

Maoist sources confirmed police claims that they had introduced the child soldier — widely used by the Tamil Tigers, Khmer Rouge and African militias — into Bengal’s western theatre of conflict.

Officers said some 200 young boys were part of the “local action squad” the rebels had raised since entering Lalgarh 10 months ago, and had been trained to use firearms and set off improvised explosive devices.

When 10 of them walked into Burisole from a nearby forest around 9am, the villagers thought they had come to participate in a sports tournament. The oldest among the boys was hardly 17.

“I would never have imagined that boys so young could be Maoist killers,” said villager Anil Mahato. “They barely had any facial hair. I thought they had come for the foot tennis (soccer with a tennis ball, a popular local sport) tournament being held nearby.”

But the boys headed for the cigarette and betel shop of Sambhu Mahato, 40, the CPM branch committee secretary.