AP DGP denies custody of Naxal leader Rajanna
Sunday, July 8, 2007
DGP denies custody of Naxal
Hyderabad, July 7: The director general of police, M.A. Basith on Saturday denied having top Maoist leader Rajanna alias Chandrasekhar Reddy in custody. He maintained that he had no information of the arrest of Maoist leader from Rayalseema division.
Reports in the media claimed that Rajanna was arrested by the Andhra Pradesh police in a joint operation with their counterparts from Karnataka and Chhattisgarh at the Chittoor-Bangalore border. Rajanna joined the movement three decades ago and since then was an active participant in the activities of the organisation in the Rayalseema region.
Even as the killing of Maoists leaders Sande Rajamouli and Somanna have turned controversial for the police, the top cop challenged the civil rights activists to prove that the encounters were fake. Reacting to the allegations, the DGP said, "The encounters were not fake. The allegations are baseless and there is no proof to support it."
Sande Rajamouli alias Prasad, a Central committee member and Central Military Commission member of CPI (Maoist) was killed in an alleged encounter near Dharmavaram railway station on June 22. The Maoists in a statement following the encounter alleged that Rajamouli was arrested and later killed in a fake encounter. On July 1, Chettiraja Papaiah alias Somanna the North Telangana Special Zonal Committee secretariat member was killed in an alleged encounter in Warangal district.
Meanwhile, the State-wide bandh call given by Maoists in protest against the encounter killing of the Maoists evoked poor response barring some Maoists strongholds including agency areas. The bandh was partial to near total in the villages and towns located on Andhra-Orissa border.
Labels: Andra Pradesh, NEWS
posted by Resistance 7/08/2007 05:58:00 PM,
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Police strength for combing operations to be doubled in TN
K.T. Sangameswaran
| Searches are also on in Tiruvallur and Vellore districts |
Navin Prasad absconding for past five years
Multi-pronged strategy to tackle naxalite menace
CHENNAI: It has been decided to double the strength of police personnel involved in combing operations against naxalites in various parts of the State, according to a police source.
Besides the hill ranges of Periyakulam, Kodaikanal and Western Ghats, the searches are on in Tiruvallur and Vellore districts. As of now, a little over 200 Special Task Force personnel of all ranks are engaged in the combing.
One of the three identified CPI (Maoist) cadres, who escaped from Murugan Malai near Periyakulam a few days ago, is wanted by the police in connection with the Uthangarai encounter in 2002. The source said Navin Prasad of Dharmapuri district was absconding for the past five years.
The others were identified as Kalidas from Paramakudi, against whom several cases were pending, and Ranjith of Tiruvallur district, who was absconding for the past four years. The police are continuing their hunt for seven more persons
Thanks to the timely information from the local people, the police were able to nab three naxalites from Murugan Malai. Rewarding the public in a suitable manner was under consideration, the source said.
One of the .303 rifles seized by the police had a specific mark in white paint. Following this, a police team had been rushed to Karnataka for verification.
The arms and ammunition were all country-made. The grenades did not contain any charge.
Director-General of Police D. Mukherjee told The Hindu that a multi-pronged strategy to tackle the naxalite menace was under implementation, particularly after the Uthangarai encounter. A constant effort was on to involve the impres sionable group in constructive activity. The police were organising sports activities and assisted the youth in the development of their skills. Mobile libraries had been started. The personnel of the special division visited the violence-prone villages and the absence of basic amenities there. The Superintendents of Police concerned were submitting reports regularly to the CollectorsThe Hindu
posted by Resistance 7/08/2007 10:39:00 AM,
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Three-pronged strategy to combat naxalites in Bihar
Friday, July 6, 2007
Three-pronged strategy to combat naxalites in Bihar
"A concrete action plan combining development initiative with police action to check Maoists activities is being prepared", official sources said today.
Measures to tackle the naxalites were discussed at length when Chief Minister Nitish Nitish Kumar reviewed the law and order situation at a high-level meeting here yesterday.
State home department sources said the state government was preparing a fresh list of the naxalites operating in the 14 Naxal-hit districts, while another list of hardcore militants was also being prepared.
The chief minister was of the opinion that the much-publicised 'Aapki Sarkar Aapke Dwar' programme should be effectively implemented to tackle the problems of poverty and unemployment at the grassroots level and government's welfare programmes be properly highlighted.
State Chief Secretary A K Choudhary, Home Commissioner Afzal Amanullah and Director General of Police Ashish Ranjan Sinha attended the meeting.
Sources said Kumar suggested care should be taken for human rights protection while firmly dealing with the naxalites.
The meeting came close on the heels of killing of nine people, including five policemen, in simultaneous attacks by the Maoists on a police station and a outpost in Rohtas district on last Saturday.
Bureau Report
posted by Resistance 7/06/2007 09:32:00 AM,
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Kerala HC rejects petition by former DIG in encounter case
Thursday, July 5, 2007
4 July 2007
The Kerala High Court has dismissed a petition filed by former DIG P Vijayan, a third accused in the naxalite Varghese murder case.
Justice V Ramkumar dismissed the petition filed by the former police officer, challenging the order of CBI Special Court, Ernakulam, of June 8, 2007, dismissing his plea for discharge in the case.
Mr Justice Ramkumar observed that the affidavit sworn to and the extra-judicial confession by the first accused in the case could not be eschewed or discarded as worthless shred of evidence.
He also observed that in a country where the rule of law was supreme and courts existed for doing justice to mankind and truth could be unravelled through an impartial, blemishless and faultless investigation, criminal trial alone was the answer.
"I see no ground to interfere with the order passed by the trial court," he added.
According to the prosecution, naxalite Varghese, who was allegedly killed in a police encounter on February 18, 1970, was shot dead by the first accused, a CRPF Constable Ramachandran Nair, who is now no more. He was ordered by the then Dy SP Laxmana and then DIG P Vijayan to shoot Varghese.
The case was investigated by the CBI and the final report was laid before the Special CBI Court, Ernakulam, on December 11, 2002.
Related post
posted by Resistance 7/05/2007 09:24:00 PM,
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Virasam terms Bhu Poratam politically-motivated
Virasam terms Bhu Poratam politically-motivated
Thursday July 5 2007 12:05 IST
NELLORE: Revolutionary Writers Association (VIRASAM) working committee member Vara Vara Rao described Bhu Poratams of the Left parties as politically motivated movements, which have no objective and policy to do good to the poor.
Addressing a media conference, here on Wednesday, Rao wondered why the Left parties kept silent for three years of the Congress rule and took up the land struggle now. Reason is very simple, he said and explained that during last three years, Left parties were allies of the Congress Party in the absence of any major party available to form alliance with.
Now with Assembly elections on hand, to have their say, Left parties have taken up the land struggle. He also found fault with them for limiting their agitations to cities and towns and forgetting that there are poor living even in rural areas.
Rao demanded that the Government immediately resume 25,000 acres of land around Hyderabad City which is under illegal occupation. He said that land reforms and distribution was one of the important issues of talks held with the Government in 2004.
It was demanded that the Government distribute 1.25 crore acres of land to the poor.
VIRASAM member was very critical of the Government's policies and said that all of them are dictated by the World Bank. He blamed the Government for failure of talks with Maoists and said that there was no clause to put away arms, when the Naxal leaders were invited for talks.
Rao said that VIRASAM supports separate statehood for Telangana and opined that it can only be achieved through people's movements but not by political parties like TRS.
Labels: Andra Pradesh, NEWS, Varava Rao
posted by Resistance 7/05/2007 01:06:00 PM,
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Bihar: Fresh govt move on Naxals
PATNA: The state government is in the process of preparing a fresh list of Naxals operating in the 14 Naxal-affected districts. A separate list of hardcore Naxals is also being prepared to counter their onslaught in an effective manner.
The exhaustive exercise has been undertaken to collect all the necessary details like their leaders' area of influence, their affiliation to various Maoist outfits and the preparedness of the police -- right from the grass roots-level to that of the district headquarters.
A daylong marathon meeting on law and order and Naxalism here on Wednesday took stock of the present scenario with a view to tackling the Naxal onslaught in the state.
Chaired by CM Nitish Kumar, the first high-level meeting on law and order stressed the need for launching the much-publicised "Aapki Sarkar-Aapke Dwar" programme in districts to tackle various problems at the grass roots-level. The CM said that the government welfare programmes should be properly highlighted.
Nitish also reviewed the law and order situation in the state and issued necessary directions to the officials concerned to control crime. Besides chief secretary A K Chaudhary, home commissioner Afzal Amanullah, DGP A R Sinha, ADG (special) Abhayanand, IG (headquarters) Anil Sinha and IG (operation) S K Bhardwaj also attended the meeting.
A second round of the meeting on Naxal problem was held under the chairmanship of CS Chaudhary in which IGs were also present. The meeting continued till late evening. It will continue on Thursday as well.
Although the officials remained tightlipped over the deliberations at the meeting, sources said that the various wings of the government, including the CID, intelligence and police stations, would exchange information on a regular basis. The existing operational gaps in sharing information and constraints would be removed, said an official.
Now onwards, police informers will be protected. The state intelligence wing will also be strengthened. The meeting felt that more Central Para Military Force (CPMF) needs to be deployed in the Naxal-affected districts. The Centre has already released two companies of the CPMF as against its demand for 10 companies. The Centre has asked for the location for the remaining eight companies, Amanullah said.
Nitish expressed his unhappiness over the internal bickerings and groupism in the police headquarters. "The government is determined to continue with its ongoing development and welfare programmes. There would be no compromise on this issue. The police have been given complete freedom to act in a befitting manner while protecting human rights," Amanullah said.
Times Of India
posted by Resistance 7/05/2007 09:31:00 AM,
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Maoist held in Jalpaiguri
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Maoist held with arms | ||
| OUR CORRESPONDENT | ||
Siliguri, July 1: A member of the CPI (Maoist) was arrested in Jalpaiguri last night. Two pipeguns, 18 rounds of live cartridges and Rs 10,500 were seized from him. Acting on a tip-off, CID officials picked up Pradip Chatterjee, alias Japan, a resident of Garia in Calcutta, from the Beguntari area of the town. He has been booked under Sections 25, 26 and 27 — possessing and using weapons and ammunition illegally — of the arms act. "We have also charged him under Sections 468 and 471 of the IPC for possessing counterfeit currency. There were twenty-one 500-rupee notes with him, some of which were fake. Pradip had earlier been sent to jail for his Maoist activities," said Sisir Dewan, the deputy superintendent of police, CID. The 28-year-old had been arrested in Matigara, 5km from here, in 2005 on the charge of waging war against the state. He was in a Siliguri jail for eight months before being let out on bail. "Once out, Pradip was back to campaigning for his organisation. The Maoist leadership engaged him to expand its network in north Bengal, especially in the closed tea gardens of the Dooars," said Dewan. Police officials claimed that Pradip has visited Kanthalguri and Ramjhora. Talking to reporters on the way to Jalpaiguri Sadar Hospital for medical tests from the Kotwali police station, Pradip alleged that the police had framed him. "I was carrying some money and publicity materials, but not arms and ammunition. I have been framed." He also shouted slogans like "Maobad Zindabad (Long Live Maoism)". Police and intelligence officials had been on alert since receiving information that the CPI (Maoist) had formed a zonal committee in north Bengal. "We were told that it had Pradip and leaders like Animesh Chakraborty (in Malda jail now) as members," a CID official said. Hours after Pradip's arrest, CID sleuths raided his Calcutta house at 120 Raja S.C. Mallick Road, where his parents stay. "They have taken away our cellphone and a computer. The mobile was important as both of us are cardiac patients and our landline is dead," said 56-year-old Reena Chatterjee, Pradip's mother. His father Prasanta Chatterjee is 70. According Reena, Pradip left home for north Bengal around 20 days ago. He was produced in court today and remanded in police custody for six days. Pradip is likely to be taken to Bhawani Bhavan, the CID headquarters in Calcutta, for further interrogation. | ||
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posted by Resistance 7/03/2007 12:24:00 PM,
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Naxal threat: Three UP districts put on alert
Three UP districts put on alert
Varanasi, July 2 (PTI): The naxal-infested districts of Chandauli, Mirzapur and Sonebhadra in Uttar Pradesh have been put on a state of high alert in view of the insurgent attack in Rohtas district of Bihar on Saturday, police sources said today.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Varanasi Range, Kashmir Singh issued directives to the police chiefs of these districts bordering Bihar. Singh has asked them to put in place tight security arrangements to avert any naxal attack and foil infiltration of the insurgents from the neighbouring state, sources said.
He has also asked the police to intensify patrolling.
Meanwhile, the railway authorities of Mughalsarai division in neighbouring Chandauli district have also stepped up security along the Mughalsarai-Patna and Mughalsarai-Howrah sections. Vigil is also being maintained at the tracks to prevent sabotage by the naxalites, railway sources said.
Ultras killed 13 persons and injured several others when they raided a police station and a picket in Rohtas district.
Labels: NEWS, Uttar pradesh
posted by Resistance 7/03/2007 12:04:00 PM,
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179 RPSF men trained to fight Naxal
179 RPSF men trained
By RAKESH K. SINGH
New Delhi, July 2: The Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) has trained the first batch of 179 personnel at the elite Counter-Insurgency and Anti-Terrorist Training School at Silchar in Assam. The specialised training in counter-insurgency to the RPSF personnel has been imparted in view of the growing threat and damage to railways properties in Naxal-affected states by the ultras.
The RPSF is the specialised armed wing of the Railway Protection Froce (RPF) and is required to act as a strike force to guard vital installations from agitation, terrorism and insurgency affecting railway operations.
The six-week training of the RPSF included counter-insurgency modules, special lectures on improvised explosive device (IED), demonstration and lectures on sophisticated weaponry of Naxalites and battle obstacle course.
The computer-aided training were conducted at the Counter Insurgency and Anti-Terrorist Training School in simulated environment, including innovative field firing ranges and shooting ranges.
The Counter-Insurgency and Anti-Terrorist Training School at Silchar went operational in 2006 and conducts 16 regular courses of six weeks each on these subjects.
Apart from training 840 personnel of the quick reaction team of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in batches of 210 personnel, the school has also trained 250 police personnel each from Jharkhand and Bihar.
The tailor-made courses for counter-insurgency against Naxalites have been designed in view of a growing threat to economic activities in the states affected by Left-wing extremism.
Labels: NEWS
posted by Resistance 7/03/2007 12:03:00 PM,
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Karnataka govt. withdraws controversial list of naxalites
Karnataka govt. withdraws controversial list of naxalites
Bangalore, UNI: Karnataka Home Minister M Prakash today said that the government would revise the list of 33 persons released by police officials recently.
Karnataka Home Minister M Prakash today said that the government had withdrawn the list of armed naxalites
and their supporters following opposition from a section of society.
Speaking to newspersons here he said the government would revise the list of 33 persons released by police officials recently. "The list was prepared in 2003 and the government will revise it with new criteria, depending on the activities, writings, speeches made individuals," he said, adding that the cases would be registered against those as and when they indulge in such activities in future.
He said that the setting afire a KSRTC bus in Agumbe yesterday by naxalites was commendable and does not augur well for a healthy society.
Police officials were on the job to investigate into the incident and strict action would be taken against those indulging in violent ways, he said.
He said the government also intends to bring amendments to the Excise Act in the coming session to implement the arrack ban strictly. Amendmends would also be brought to Lok Ayukta Act with regard to extending of suo motu power. The government needed extra police staff of 4859 for implementation of arrack ban and the recruitment in this regard would begin in the next six months, he said.
The Home Minister said the government would view the deaths due illicit brewing and deal with iron hand, those involved in brewing it.
He said that the government had proposed to introduce several allowances for the police officials including risk allowances, overtime, providing housing facilities and weekly offs for police constables.
Labels: Karnataka, Naxal list, NEWS
posted by Resistance 7/03/2007 11:36:00 AM,
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Andhra Pradesh Tribal Areas Hit By Maoist Shutdown
The statewide shutdown called by Maoists in Andhra Pradesh Monday to protest the recent killing of their top leader by police in an alleged fake encounter disrupted normal life in some tribal areas of the state.
The outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) called for the shutdown to protest the killing of Maoist leader S. Rajamouli.
Rajamouli alias Prasad, who headed the CPI-Maoist in neighbouring Karnataka, was killed by police in an alleged encounter in Anantapur district on June 22.
He was a central committee member and central military commission member of the CPI-Maoist and was the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on the then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in October 2003.
The Maoists have alleged that police arrested Rajamouli in Karnataka and killed him in a stage-managed gun battle.
The shutdown has affected normal life in tribal areas in Warangal district in Telangana, where another top Maoist leader was gunned down by police Sunday, and Visakhapatnam district bordering Orissa.
As a precautionary measure, the state owned Road Transport Corporation (RTC) suspended bus services to remote areas in Maoist infested districts of Warangal, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Khammam, Mahabubnagar and Visakhapatnam.
One Maoist was arrested by police in Lanka Pakala village in G. K. Veedhi mandal of Visakhapatnam district Monday when he was trying to lay a landmine. Three other Maoists escaped in forests.
Fearing Maoist violence, police forces intensified combing operations in agency areas and also in Nallamalla forests in Guntur district, where the extremists are reportedly trying to regroup.
The CPI-Maoist Sunday lost another top leader C. Papaiah alias Somanna, who was gunned down by police in Medaram forest area in Warangal district. He was the North Telangana Special Zonal Committee (NTSZC) secretariat member.
In a statement released to some newspapers Monday, NTSZC secretary Jampanna alleged that police arrested Somanna June 30 and killed him in cold blood a day later. Stating that the Congress government in the state was responsible for the killing, he called for a statewide shutdown July 7.
Meanwhile, Maoist sympathizer and revolutionary writer Varavara Rao has approached a court in Warangal seeking another autopsy of Somanna's body. He alleged that police violated human rights by killing the Maoist leader in a stage-managed gun battle.
The CPI-Maoist has lost many top leaders in the last one year. Its senior most leader in the state was also gunned down by the police last year.
Labels: Andra Pradesh, NEWS
posted by Resistance 7/03/2007 11:33:00 AM,
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"Naxalites is far better grounded in ideology. Their weaponry is, of course, much better"
Monday, July 2, 2007
How do you look back at the Naxalite movement?
The Naxalites had committed several mistakes. When Charu Majumdar, or Charubabu as he was known then, came to Calcutta, he was speaking of a liberated countryside and the final rise of Naxalite forces from the city. It never happened that way. City students who went to rural areas and attacked jotdars (landowners) were badly disillusioned. Their prime weakness was lack of weapons. Charubabu made a mistake by following the Chinese model of Maoist movement - elimination of class enemy. The Naxalite cadres began trooping back to the city, which was not part of Charubabu's plan. When he failed to stop this retreat, he began pretending that what was happening was according to plan. But many of the retreating Naxalites fell into the hands of police. At that time, several anti-social elements had also joined the movement, who were used by the police.
Was the brutal repression of Naxalites necessary?
The commissionerate took the view that the Naxalite storm of killing policemen and judges would blow over if faced with great courage. That courage was shown by the Calcutta police. There was devolution of power from the control room to the police station or to the officer-in-charge. Each OC formed a joint force with police and anti-socials to combat the Naxalites. In this fight, many were killed on either side. I have no doubts that the Naxalite style of killing asked for retribution. However, many of the killings of Naxalites were in reality carried out by CPM-supported goons and Congress-backed anti-socials.
Did fake encounters occur?
Yes fake killings happened. To a major extent the police force was controlled in its response. But they were in a vengeful mood with so many policemen being killed.
But police brutality could not finish the Naxalite movement.
Yes, the Naxalite ideology lived on. There are now 40-50 large and small Naxalite groups all over the country. Today, in West Bengal, the Naxalites have penetrated as far as Nandigram. The current breed of Naxalites is far better grounded in ideology. Their weaponry is, of course, much better. They are better equipped to take advantage of the administration's failings.
posted by Resistance 7/02/2007 01:49:00 PM,
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Top Maoist leader killed in AP
Hyderabad, July. 1 (PTI): A top Maoist leader, carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakhs on his head, was killed in an exchange of fire with police in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh today.
The naxal leader was killed when a special police party combing in the forest area near Medaram village Tadwai Mandal exchanged firing with Maoists, police said.
The deceased was identified as Ch Paparao alias Somanna (48), a secretariat member of North Telangana Special Zonal Committee (NTSZC) for over last 15 years.
Somanna, who also worked as secretary of Warangal and Karimnagar districts, was involved in 31 offences including 14 murder cases, police said.
Labels: Andra Pradesh, NEWS
posted by Resistance 7/02/2007 01:41:00 PM,
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CPI (ML) targets private hospitals
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Monday June 25 2007 12:28 IST
NIZAMABAD: The CPI (ML) New Democracy party's effort in the name of 'Prajarogya Parirakshana' is sending jitters to the private medical sector.
The party along with its related organisation All India Kisan Mazdoor Sangh (AIKMS) is now initiating all-party movement against injustice in the medical sector and trying to check looting of patients by the big hospitals.
The Telugu Desam Government has introduced an Act for checking the private medical sector and the Congress Government has released GO 135 recently to augment its implementation.
However, there seems to be no impact of the Act on the private hospitals. In such a scenario, the CPI (ML) with partnership of Telugu Desam, TRS and people's organisations formed a committee in Armoor for implementing its programme.
The newly formed committee has submitted one memorandum to the government and another to the Indian Medical Association (IMA) giving it two months time to ensure that the managements of the private hospitals function according to the Private Nursing Home Regulatory Act.
The CPI (ML) leaders also suggested the IMA representatives to see that the managements agree for running the hospitals in favour of public.
Buoyed with few recent successes in this area, the party has also prepared an action plan for spreading the movement to other districts like Nizamabad, Karimnagar and other areas.
The party had made one RMP in Armoor mandal bear the expenses for the treatment of one patient in a corporate hospital after his treatment on the person had an unwanted effect.
In another case, a young advocate had received timely medical service in Kammarapalli.
The party's efforts had even prompted some high-level officials suggest to the management of a private hospital to pay compensation to the bereaved family of a Dalit woman who died in their hospital.
AIKMS State secretary V Prabhakar called upon all politcal parties and people's organisations to join hand with them in their endeavour.
He ruled out allegations that their partymen were attacking doctors.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Nursing Homes Association district unit secretary E Ravinder Reddy said the CPI (ML) was asking for payment of compensation to the bereaved families of deceased in their hospitals and made it clear that it was not possible.
"Encouraging such incidents might prevent doctors from taking up serious cases," he feared. IMA district unit secretary Dr Mahipal Reddy said the party's efforts to check the medical profession was giving rise to new problems.
DM&HO MVVS Murhty said they do not have any information about the introduction of the Private Nursing Home Act. We are still awaiting for government orders, he said.
Labels: CPI(ML) New Democracy, NEWS
posted by Resistance 6/30/2007 12:05:00 AM,
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Nandigram on the boil again
Friday, June 29, 2007
New Delhi: Nandigram continues to be on the boil. CPI-M activists and farmers reportedly hurled crude bombs at each other on Friday morning.
After a lull of ten days, fresh violence erupted on Thursday evening. One person was wounded in firing between an anti-land acquisition group and CPI-M activists.
The firing took place at Tekhalibazar, the same area where supporters of Bhumi Uchched Pratirodh Committee (Anti Land Acquisition group) and CPI-M had traded fire sporadically for three days from Ju
ne 15.
Around 200 policemen were deployed on Thursday to bring the situation under control.
The Bengal government's plans for a special economic zone in Nandigram were scrapped soon after 14 people died in police firing on March 14. But sporadic clashes between CPI-M activists and farmers against land acquisition are yet to stop.
East Midnapore district superintendent of police G A Srinivas said the firing between the two sides began at 0700 hrs, IST and continued for an hour.
He said one person was injured in the exchange of fire. BUPC convenor Sheikh Suffian claimed the injured Nishi Kanta Pradhan was a Committee supporter.
Suffian also claimed CPI-M cadres had fired 30 rounds at Committee supporters at Tekhalibazar.
posted by Resistance 6/29/2007 07:02:00 PM,
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Philippine Maoists attack on army outpost, kill 7 troops
MANILA (Reuters) - About 70 communist New People's Army (NPA) rebels attacked and overran an army outpost on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, killing a soldier and six part-time troops, a police general said on Friday.
Antonio Nanas, regional police chief, said the Maoist rebels surprised an undermanned army outpost in Las Nieves town late on Tuesday night, attacking from three directions.
"A soldier was killed in the initial burst of gunfire," Nanas told reporters, adding a team of soldiers and reservists defended their positions for several minutes before they were overwhelmed by superior firepower.
The rebels ransacked the detachment and captured six reservists. They were later executed. "We found their bodies not far from the outpost," he said.
The NPA, fighting one of the world's oldest communist insurgencies and active in 69 of 81 provinces, often attacks remote military and police facilities to steal weapons and ammunition.
The Philippines, which is also fighting Muslim insurgents, has said that the NPA is its biggest security threat. President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo ordered an all-out war against the communists in June 2006.
Peace talks between the government and the rebels stalled in 2004 after the United States and some European countries put the NPA and its leaders on terrorist blacklists
On Thursday, the NPA's political leaders, based in The Netherlands, rejected Manila's proposal for a ceasefire as a condition before talks could be re-started, describing it as an unacceptable demand tantamount to capitulation.
Labels: NEWS, Philippine
posted by Resistance 6/29/2007 04:31:00 PM,
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CPM leaders held for Singur murder
OLKATA/SINGUR: The ruling CPM on Thursday was left red faced after Singur party chief Suhrid Dutta was charged with the murder of teenager Tapasi Malik,
Dutta's arrest was the second after CBI took over the case. CBI had earlier picked up CPM activist Debu Malik and put him through a narco-analysis. Dutta and Malik will be produced in court on Friday.
CBI sleuths interrogated Dutta for seven hours and at the end, slapped charges of murder and criminal conspiracy on him after they found several inconsistencies in his statement. CBI officers smell a rat in the entire episode. "It's a sensitive issue. The investigation is on. It appears that the girl was heavily assaulted. It appears to be a part of a deeper conspiracy," special branch SP A K Sahay said.
On Thursday CBI also grilled CPM district committee member Dibakar Das and two others at the special crime branch office at Salt Lake, but let them go.
A CBI official said the agency had got "some important leads" and was confident of closing the case soon. "Our investigation has reached its final stage. We may have to raid some places and arrest some more. We will frame the chargesheet in due course," the official said.
Dutta's arrest is based on the statement made by Malik, who was sent for narco-analysis in Chandigarh. Malik was flown in to Kolkata amid tight security on Thursday. The North Bidhannagar Police cordoned off the area while Malik was taken out of the airport through a special gate before being taken to crime branch office at Salt Lake.
Local CPM leaders admit that Malik and Dutta were not on good terms though they swore by the same party. Dutta, who played a key role in gathering consent for land acquisition from the Singur farmers, is known for his bonhomie with a section of the Trinamul Congress. So when Malik tried to hush up the murder as suicide, Krishi Jami Raksha Committee members close to Dutta implicated Malik in the case. Party insiders feel that Malik might have taken revenge when his chance came. CPM state secretariat member Benoy Konar refused to see the case as a political murder.
Related post Singur Tapasi Malik(16 years) - Raped and burnt alive in Singur
posted by Resistance 6/29/2007 04:02:00 PM,
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Maoist leader Babulal gets life term
Giridih, June 28: A fast track court today awarded life term to Babulal Murmu, an extremist, for his futile attempt to kill former chief minister Babulal Marandi four years ago.
The ninth fast track court of additional district and sessions judge R.D. Yadav pronounced the punishment after hearing 17 out of 18 chargesheeted witnesses.
At least eight prime witnesses, including several police officers and villagers, identified Babulal as one of the attackers. The police had booked Babulal under the Arms Act, too, but the court did not sentence him on that account.
A group of CPI(Maoist) activists had attacked the security personnel guarding Marandi on September 6, 2003, at Sidhwa-Soti in Tisri to kill the former chief minister.
In the ambush, the rebels triggered three landmine blasts and opened fire on Marandi's security forces and killed three persons — constable Claiment Soren and villagers Paura Kisku and Mahendra Sharma.
Babulal, Vishnu Rajwar, Taslumuddin, Ganauri Ravidas and two others were named accused in the case with 200 others in the unknown category.
On November 14, 2003, Tisri police arrested Babulal. Since then, he was under trial in the Giridih court.
Other than the attack on Marandi, Maoists have committed several crimes, including butchering 16 villagers in Bhelwaghati and looting rifles from the homeguard training centre, in the area. But in most of the cases the police had to release the accused persons due to lack of evidence.
posted by Resistance 6/29/2007 08:44:00 AM,
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Oriss: House debates Maoist activitiy
Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, June 28: The Maoist menace needs to be viewed in proper perspective as it is not confined to Orissa. The incidence of violence during their current economic blockade have taken place in several states, said chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik while adding without being complacent one can say that the situation in neighbouring states is worse than Orissa.
Replying to a notice for adjournment on Left wing extremist-related violence at Deogarh and Koraput as well as two other murder cases at Keonjhar and Athgarh, the CM said 14 states were affected by the Left wing extremism. Reeling out figures he said during the current year, there were 31 instances of attacks by Naxalites in Orissa whereas in Chhattisgarh, the number of cases were 169 and in Jharkhand, it was 118.
Over the past seven years, the casualty figure in Orissa was 103 as against 941, 930 and 1867 in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh, he informed.
Denying the Opposition charge that the police were demoralised and unable to tackle the problem, Mr Patnaik claimed that his government had taken systemic steps to improve the efficiency of the police. Over 10,600 posts had been created and 4806 constables recruited. The India Reserve Battalion was formed and two more such battalions are to be established, he added.
He pointed out that the administration was getting the support of local people and the recent Maoist attack in Deogarh where they had killed three persons was because they were not getting support of the locals.
Countering the Opposition on failure in the socio-economic front , specially land related issues, the CM noted that a few days ago, he had gone to Rayagada and distributed 18,235 pattas to landless people which is the " highest in the country at one single function". "The police were concerned about the trip but it was so important that I decided to go and I am happy I did," he remarked.
It is not true that the government had failed to perform in the socio-economic front, stated the chief minister while noting that the growth rate during the 10th Plan period was higher than projections.
Earlier, he referred to the four particular instances and said on 21 June, Maoists entered Ranigola village and Telikusimi village of Deogarh district. They killed three persons suspecting their involvement in anti-Naxalite operations that had taken place in the village on 3 July last year when four hardcore Maoists had been killed. The Maoists had suffered amajor setback in the region due to two successfully anti-Naxalite operations last year in which seven Maoists had died, he said.
On the same day, Maoists attacked the Darliput railway station in Koraput district, he said. He also provided details of the other two criminal cases that had been registered at Athgarh of Cuttack district and Elkania in Keonjhar district.
Initiating the discussions, Congress leader Mr Narasingha Mishra had lambasted the government for its failure on the socio-economic front as a result of which the poor and tribals were taking to naxalism.
He decried that several key posts were lying vacant including those of DIG of two important range. Nothing has been done on land reforms and this government does not want to provide land to the landless, he alleged , caustically adding that the government was grabing land and displacing tribals . You will be digging your own grave if you take comfort by drawing comparisons with neighbouring states, he remarked.
Several other Congress leaders accused the government of complete failure on the law and order front and the socio-economic front. The treasury bench members led by Kalpataru Das countered referring to pro-poor measures taken by the government and the growth of left wing extremism in different states.
posted by Resistance 6/29/2007 08:41:00 AM,
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West Bengal Police policy opens red success door
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Police policy opens red success door |
| RANJAN DASGUPTA |
| Ranchi, June 27: A faulty policy on police transfer has come as a boon for the Maoists to reap mileage from the two-day economic blockade, which ends midnight today. Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) could despatch only 17,500 tonnes of coal — against its usual 67,000 tonnes — by railways yesterday, the first day of the blockade. The sudden fall in the supply of coal was due to unavailability of wagons, said senior CCL officials, adding that it has hit the company and the state financially. The blockade crippled economic activities, especially in the transport sector. With businessmen having low confidence on the law enforcing agencies, they thought it prudent to withdraw trucks and other commercial vehicles. "If the rebels can murder a Lok Sabha member (Sunil Mahto) in broad daylight, can anyone rely on the government to protect our lives and properties?" asked a leading transporter. Some of the senior state police officers admitted that the fear factor has gripped the common people about the rebels. "To instil the confidence among the people the police machinery has to undertake operations against rebels on a continuous basis. But men in khaki are hardly visible in remote parts of districts that have become safe haven for the unofficial men in khaki — the rebels. They are punishing those who defy their diktat and the common masses do not have the courage to ignore agitation sponsored by the Naxalites," said a superintendent of police. Several police officers admitted that clearly there is a lack of motivation to inspire the jawans and the officials to take on the rebels fearlessly. "It is a fact that in our state, the authorities transfer police officers and jawans in Naxalite-hit districts and police stations as punishment for their alleged problem with the higher-ups. So will such staff give their cent per cent in battling the rebels?" questioned a senior police officer. In many rebel-hit states, the government makes it a point to depute its most efficient officer in districts that are hit by Naxalites. Manpower is another issue that is preventing the police from carrying out the anti-Naxalite operations. Take the case of the government railway police assigned to keep a tab on trains and stations. Against the sanctioned strength of 800, only 550 jawans are functioning and with this skeleton force, GRP has to provide escort parties in over 70 trains passing through the state. But deputy chief minister Sudhir Mahto refused to admit that the police had failed to tackle the issue. "The rebels adopt hit and run strategy. They do not have the courage to come to face to face with police. The government is serious in dealing with the problem." Meanwhile, Maoist area commander Teklal Mahto was arrested by Giridih police from Dwarpahri under Jamua police station. "He was wanted in eight cases of loot, murder and violence," said superintendent of police A.K. Singh. In Bokaro, two rebels — Rameshwar Gangu (40) and Dhaneshwar Mahto (32) — were arrested from Upper Ghat in Nawadih. Both were wanted in many cases. |
posted by Resistance 6/28/2007 11:09:00 PM,
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