‘Urban Naxals’ a reality, Maoists get help from intellectuals: Jharkhand cops

The ‘urban Naxalism’ menace is a reality and often the human right activists and intellectuals back the Maoists and their nefarious movement to the hilt but on the other hand they also seek to weaken the resolve to eradicate Naxalites, top Jharkhand police officials have said here.

Blogger in onetime Naxal hub

“I can give you live example....sometime back when the new Surrender Policy of the Jharkhand government was announced and that fetched rich dividends, there was a PIL in the High Court opposing the Surrender Policy. The message was clear,” R L Mallick, ADG Operation and Law and Order, told a visiting group of journalists from Delhi.

Mr Mallick said most often ‘money too’ plays a part as the intellectuals stance in favour of the Maoists vis-a-vis alleged government high handedness is not “voluntary” always. “Moreover, the timing factor in crucial....We have followed these developments. As a trend we have seen the hue and cry by the intellectuals, the columns in newspapers and so on would increase whenever the Maoists or Naxal elements are under stress,” said Mr Mallick.

“Financial return cannot be ruled out as the actions from the intellectuals are often not out of altruistic and philanthropic approach,” he said. To strengthen his argument, Mr Mallick said the Naxal elements in the state have come extreme stress after about 100 of their cadres including at the level of Special Area Committee member have surrendered in last three years.

In June this year, the state cabinet gave its nod to frame the new Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy for Maoists enabling more and more rebels to join the mainstream. “For surrender of a Maoist who has been member of the Special Area Committee the government also announced that entire reward amount of R 25 lakh would go to the surrendered Naxal,” Mr Mallick said.

As per the revised policy, family of a surrendered Maoist will get all benefits given to a common man, in case he is killed in Naxal violence, besides getting increased incentives.

According to sources in Jharkhand Jaguar, the special force to foght Maoists’ menace, the changes were made to make surrender policy more simple and attractive so that more and more Maoists shun violence and get back into the mainstream. "Under the revised policy, one of his (surrendered Naxal) nearest eligible kin will also get a government job, in case a surrendered Maoist is killed by his former colleagues," police sources said.

Ashish Batra, IG Operations, said there were 39 surrenders in 2016 and 47 in 2017 as against 12 in2014 and 13 in 2015. In this context, he said these figures can be linked to number of Naxal related violent incidents too. “Compared to 2007 and 2008 when Naxal related incidents were 478 and 436 respectively, there was gradual decline in number of incidents in 2017 – the number dropping to 196,” he said. Mr Batra also said the Naxals have been trying to enter the student bodies, trade unions and other pressure groups to often camouflage their actions and create public sentiments in favour of the movement or present the state and the police forces as enemies of the society. “Therefore, we say while Maoisn has come down in Jharkhand, yet the challenges remain...,” he remarked.

In this context, he said the one pro-Naxal group MSS organised meetings in a college inviting senior Maoists leaders and sympathisers. But the organisation was banned. “However, in no time Vidasthan Virodhi Andolan too has come up....,” he said. In fact, central government sources too have said in the past that  various mass organisations mostly operating under the garb of human rights NGOs are organically linked to the CPI (Maoist) structure but maintain separate identities.

Mr Batra said, the Mazdoor Sangathan Samiti (MSS) was banned in January by the Jharkhand government under the provisions of the Criminal Law Amendment Act as it was allegedly found to be ‘frontal organization of the Communist Party of India (Maoist)’.  President of Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF) Vara Vara Rao wasted no time in condemning the move. But Mr Batra said “the trade union’s offices in Ranchi, Dhanbad, Dalton Gunj and Girdi” were raided and about Rs 27 lakh was recovered too.

Mr Mallick said the Maoists in running their structured organisations do use ‘intellectuals and educated’ sympathisers but hesitate to give them pro-active role in higher committees or so. “This is because the educated class cannot be good footsoldiers....In the process, they start banking mostly on semi literates and also uneducated cadres. But when senior Maoists die, there comes leadership crises...So that inherent contradiction is also a reality,” he said.

Magical Number 181 and a 'Dabang' CM

Once underestimated and someone who kept away from media glare, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das is emerging as a most performing administrator in the region. The 'performing' Chief Minister has suspended officials sitting in video conferences with complainants and at times even ordered probe against retired DIG for not paying the manual labourers their due.
Just a year to go for next year's assembly elections and Lok Sabha polls before that, the Chief Minister is on the move. According to senior government officials, all that's in focus is 'no non sense image of Raghubar Das or a 'Dabang Chief Minister' as he is caustically described for his strict orders for 'time bound' actions and delivery.

"Chalo inko suspend karo.....aisey log nahi chahiye," he would often say.

In pursuing this image of the Chief Minister, the Number 181 dial for the Call Centre Mukhya Mantri Jansamvad Kendra (MJSK) is having a magical influence, say state government officials and also some beneficiaries.

"The traditional role of civil service, police and others as administrators, providers and controller of development activities has been revived and given a new life in our state," says Lohardaga based youth Ashutosh, whose brother was killed by Naxals.

"Once we dialed 181 and got in touch with the Jansamvad Kendra, the Chief Minister intervened and we got the compensation," he says. A number of beneficiaries, a group of visiting journalists interacted here speak in similar vein.

"Our Chief Minister is insisting on performance and quick concrete results. He is making things move faster and often officials are suspended," says Digvijay from Dhanbad - another beneficiary of Number 181 call and today a self proclaimed admirer of the Chief Minister. He also says Number 181 is proving lucky these days as it seems to have "a magical influence" and helping citizens get their grievances redressed.

Endorsing the sentiment, Director Information department R L Gupta says: "There is a paradigm shift in governance in Jharkhand where the citizen is in focus and is consulted at various stages for formulation and implementation of public policy".

Agreeing with him, IAS officer and Secretary Sports and Tourism Manish Ranjan says: "There is a new work culture in the state and the bureaucracy is loving it as they are able to show results".

Others agree and maintain most officials these days see their new role as 'facilitator and regulator in a state that has suffered years of perceived negligence during the period of United Bihar and allegations of indiscriminate corruption after the statehood came in.

The Chief Minister has acted against senior babus for allegedly siphoning MG NREGA funds or police not doing enough against the wrong doers in cases of violence and atrocities against women.

It is these factors, officials say on the condition of anonymity that is guiding them to work and carry out things in mission mode even as at times Chief Minister and top bureaucrats known for being part of his team are alleged of being one sided and autocrats.

"Some points raised by you are understood. But we do not see resentment as everyone is welcoming a new atmosphere where things are delivered to the last man especially tribals...We have villages and tribals who have not seen trains in their lives," says one senior official.

Launched on May 1, 2015 the MJSK has so far solved over 1.2 lakh grievances.

The state government has nominated 54 nodal officers for all 24 districts and 30 departments for monitoring under MJSK.

Officials say on last Tuesday of every month the Chief Minister at MJSK forum interacts with shortlisted aggrieved citizens during 'Seedhi Baat' video conferences and resolve pending and even complex cases taking firm and an on the spot actions.

"The departmental heads and Deputy Commissioners and SPs are connected through video conferencing and made accountable before the Chief Minister," says government spokesman R L Gupta.

Things are moving and people are happy about it. MJSK mechanism and direct interventions of the Chief Minister Mr Das have "given new confidence to over 3.2 million citizens across 32,615 villages and 24 districts", they say.

This is what is New Jharkhand all about and as a BJP functionary says this is also being part of New India as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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