Maoists to `champion' the cause of displaced
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Visakhapatnam, June 01: The CPI (Maoist) had prepared a list of its targets and constituted action teams to carry out the killings during its ninth congress held from January 20 to February 20 at one of its strongholds.
The conference was conducted on a major scale with the required amenities provided to the participants.
It was believed that a major exercise was carried out in this regard during the conference, which was attended by top guns and key functionaries from 17 States. The attacks would be carried out in phases, the party had reportedly decided.
No to entry of MNCs
It was significant that one of the issues discussed was the support to the struggles against the displacement due to major projects and the entry of MNCs and foreign companies into the country to set up industries. Bauxite mining and setting up of alumina refinery fall under this category.
Zilla Parishad Vice-Chairman S. Ravi Shankar, who was gunned down, might not be on the `hit list' but was killed, as he was one of the important leaders of the ruling party in the agency area where the Congress was keen on bauxite mining.
It is believed that Maoists would target top Congress leaders in a bid to force the Government to go slow on the bauxite mining and anti-naxalite operations.
It is also believed that ruling party leaders have been warned to be wary about the attacks. After killing Shankar, Maoists followed it up by blasting the control room of the hydel power generation plant late on Tuesday night.
The two events in quick succession prompted the district police to alert politicians. "We have alerted probable targets and asked them to be on alert," said Officer on Special Duty Ch. Srikanth over telephone from Narsipatnam.
"It is an act of mindless violence. Citing the reasons of Ravi Shankar helping in the recruitment of Girijan battalion or supporting bauxite mining are ridiculous. It may be part of their tactical counter-offensive campaign," Mr. Srikanth said.
SiasatLabels: NEWS
posted by Resistance 6/02/2007 09:13:00 AM,
