NAXAL/ MAOISTS- 2009 - Indian Social Institute

wildfire across Jangalkhand. Using the PCPA local committees, Maoists gained access to information andlogistical support from every corner of the region. From November 12 when PCPA was formed at a rallyat Kantapahari the 14 km road connecting Lalgarh police station with the Ramgarh outpost remainedblocked for a month. Maoists used the time to strengthen their network, taking advantage of the fact thatneither the administration nor police could enter. Soon, all three roads leading to Lalgarh through Pirakataforest, from Midnapore town through Dharampur and from Goaltore were cut off. With PCPA in theforefront, senior Maoist leaders and armed outfits started infiltrating. Leaders like Chandrasekhar andAkash camped there, helping strengthen the base. It was in this period that the PCPA influence spread toBinpur I and II, Jamboni, parts of Jhargram block and Salboni. Now, all areas in a 30-km radius of Lalgarhhave been captured'. Strengthened by the local support base, they now went on uniting all the anti-CPMforces. Between January and June, several CPM leaders were killed. The Maoists finally came out in theopen with a procession at Madhupur village, which led to an attack on several CPM leaders' houses. Eversince, a new area has been added to the Maoist territory every other day. Babuibasha, Shaluka,Ramgarh, Belatikri and its adjacent areas fell soon. And finally, the entire stretch from Lalgarh to Dherua,including Dharampur, has been captured last Sunday.It could be mission Salboni next. For that's justabout the only area where CPM still exists. If that happens, Maoists could shift their base to Garbeta andKeshpur. (Times of India 18/6/09)Maoists stop journalists on way to Lalgarh (12)NIMATALA: Some journalists covering the operation to flush out Maoists from West Bengal's Lalgarharea had the scare of their lives Friday when armed Maoists stopped their cars and seized their mobilesin this village close to the trouble zone. About 25 Maoists, dressed in full battle fatigues and somecarrying assault rifles, came charging down the road and asked the journalists to alight from their vehiclesbefore taking away their mobiles. The Maoists, led by their action squad leader Bikash, wereaccompanied by more than 100 activists of the tribal People's Committee Against Police Atrocities(PCAPA), said one of the intercepted journalists. Nimatala village lies between Pirakata, from where thesecurity forces started their operation Thursday, and Bhimpur where the forces have set up camp to getto Lalgarh, about 150 km from state capital Kolkata. Following Bikash's instructions, PCAPA leader ManojMahato then spoke to the mediapersons alleging that the police were committing atrocities on "innocentvillagers"."They are attacking the villagers, damaging houses and looting rice. Police must free those theyhave arrested and pay compensation to the villagers," the journalist quoted Mahato as saying. Mahatoalso demanded the forces be withdrawn. The Maoists then started planting mines in the area beforeasking the journalists to go to Bhimpur through a bypass. "We don't consider the media enemies," Bikashsaid before returning the mobile phones to the journalists. At a media conference in Kolkata, state HomeSecretary Ardhendu Sen said there were reports of attacks on journalists by the Maoists and PCAPAmembers. "We have been told that bricks have been hurled on media cars. We request those who haveentered the troubled area by following the security forces, not to go ahead," he said. "This may beextremely risky. Please be extremely cautious and don't make the work of the police more and moredifficult." Security forces have launched a three-pronged offensive to flush out the Maoists from Lalgarh.The Maoists and their tribal supporters dug up roads, cut trees to block roads and put up a "humanshield" to prevent the security forces from advancing. The heavily armed central and state forcesresumed their operation Friday morning after a night halt near Koima, about 10 km from Lalgarh. Duringthe last few days, the agitators have torched CPI-M offices, driven away the party's supporters and forcedpolice to wind up several camps, thereby establishing a virtual free zone. (Express Buzz 19/6/09)Centre backs appeal for talks with Maoists (12)NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday endorsed the appeal of West Bengal Chief Minister BuddhadebBhattacharjee to Maoists and tribals in violence-ridden Lalgarh area to lay down arms and come for talks.Home Minister P. Chidambaram said, “If they wish to talk, they should come forward to do so. We will behappy to facilitate the talks.” He was talking to journalists after a meeting of the Union Cabinet here. Hesaid the ongoing operations, launched in Lalgarh area by the State police and the paramilitary forces,would take more time. “Progress will be slow. They [forces] are making progress. So far, the operation isgoing according to plans, but they must be prepared for the unexpected. I sincerely hope that with thekind of action we have advised, the operation will be successful.” “An operation of this kind will take sometime. In fact, it will take considerably more time than was anticipated,” the Minister said. Mr. Chidambaramsaid the forces were “moving, and moving cautiously” and the ongoing operation was not against tribals