A Singur in The Making
Friday, January 26, 2007
Public Sector DisplacementNTPC’s coalmining venture faces stiff opposition from farmers who won’t leave their land and from experts who fear damage to prehistoric megalithsSixty-five-year-old Chandru Sao, 65, a farmer at Barkagaon in Hazaribagh district in northern Jharkhand, says his family has never had to go hungry, thanks to the seven acres of fertile farmland that he owns.
But these are desperate times — the public sector giant National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has started the process of acquiring land for its maiden, ambitious coalmine project at Punkhri-Barwadih, a small town 30 kilometres southwest of Hazaribagh town. Sao says he would rather die than be parted from his land.
Thousands of farmers, small and big, in Barkagaon block of Hazaribagh face the same predicament.With tempers rising, the sleepy hamlets around Punkhri-Barwadih have all the makings of turning into another Singur – a flashpoint of people’s violent resistance to the prospect of losing their fertile farmland to an industrial venture.Apart from the loss of over 10,000 acres of well-irrigated three-crop farmland, and dense forests, NTPC’s planned opencast coalmine is likely to obliterate, or at the very least damage irreparably, Punkhri-Barwadih’s megaliths — some of the last vestiges of a prehistoric civilisation which flourished in the region.
The Rs 4,000-crore Punkhri-Barwadih project is NTPC’s first ever foray into coalmining. Scheduled to commence operations in December 2007, it will displace some 14,000 families.In November 2006, a mob of thousands of farmers tore down NTPC’s project-site office at Barkagaon. Six were arrested and there seems to be a lull for now.
But, as a Tehelka investigation discovered, that is because villagers in the remote hamlets in this Naxal-infested region are busy re-organising themselves for a stronger assault before the process of land acquisition begins. Read More>>>
posted by Bimal 1/26/2007 01:34:00 PM,
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Arms factory unearth: Red-alert in Madhya Pradesh
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Arms factory unearth: Red-alert in Madhya Pradesh
BHOPAL: A red alert has been sounded across Madhya Pradesh after an illicit arms factory unearthed in the state capital three days ago and naxal links came to light.Superintendent of Police Anant Kumar Singh said a red alert has been sounded following revelations of the links of the accused in the case with naxals.
Official sources said a red alert was sounded and security arrangements beefed up to counter any naxalite attempt to free the arrested.Meanwhile, senior police officials from five states - Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh - and experts from School of Weapons, Mhow and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were interrogating the accused.
On receiving information that certain parts for the illegal factory were purchased from Indore, police were carrying out investigation.Police unearthed few lathe machines, spares of fire arms and hand grenades, gun powder, cartridges and Naxalite literature from a house in Satnami Nagar in Piplani area here on January 11.
Labels: CPI(Maoist), News
posted by Bimal 1/14/2007 10:10:00 PM,
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Left divided over SEZ and acquisition
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
NEW DELHI: First Singur and then Nandigram. The killing of six persons at Nandigram on Sunday is widening the fissures within the Left Front with CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc attacking the CPM chief minister for not getting the allies on board.
Like Singur, Left-inclined intellectuals have again issued a statement deploring the violence in Nandigram. On Monday, CPI (ML) workers also staged a demonstration outside AKG Bhavan, CPM headquarters in the Capital, and demanded the resignation of Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and scrapping of SEZ laws.
CPI national secretary D Raja said the Nandigram incident is "unfortunate." Directly blaming the state government, Raja said, "The situation should not have been allowed to reach this stage. I wish there was more transparency. There is a need to convince everyone and evolve a political consensus." While clarifying that the Left constituents are not opposed to industrial development, Raja said the stand of the Left parties on SEZs would have repercussions on the national SEZ policy and therefore there is a need to implement it in "transparent" manner in West Bengal.
RSP leader Abani Roy, critical of the manner in which land acquisition in Singur was carried out, has also cautioned against its repetition in Nandigram. But CPI (ML) general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya is not convinced with churning within the Left Front and considers it akin to 'running with the hare and hunting with the hound' syndrome.
He dared the LF partners to quit from Bengal government if they are so upset with Bhattacharjee. He also demanded release of CPI (ML) workers in Bengal. Left and left-of-centre intellectuals like Arundhati Roy, Romila Thapar, Jean Dreze, Sumit Sarkar and others in a joint statement said the tense situation in Nandigram is "likely to be repeated across the state if the policy continues to be executed as it has, without consideration for human rights, democratic procedures and livelihoods".
They called for the formation of an all-party peace committee in West Bengal to ensure cessation of action against the villagers and an immediate end to the forcible acquisition of land.
Link
Labels: Bengal, Nandigram, News
posted by Bimal 1/09/2007 02:41:00 PM,
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Battle for land: Six killed in Nandigram
Sunday, January 7, 2007
Kolkata/Nandigram, Jan 7 (IANS) Three people were killed in overnight clashes in West Bengal's Nandigram area between farmers resisting land acquisition for a special economic zone (SEZ) and activists of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M). In protest, the opposition parties called for a 24-hour statewide shutdown Monday.
Although electronic media and several political parties, including the CPI-M put the death toll between six and 10, East Midnapore district magistrate Anup Agarwal told IANS that only three bodies had been recovered till late Sunday evening.
"We have got three bodies so far, including one just being brought in. There can be more bodies but till now the official toll is three," he said.
"We have sent two injured to Kolkata for treatment," he said even as police failed to reach the interiors fearing backlash and also owing to the villagers digging up roads, laying uprooted trees and demolishing bridges to prevent entry of cops.
Nightlong clashes with firearms and bombs ended Sunday morning.
While the Congress has called for a statewide 24-hour shutdown, the Trinamool Congress has given a call for a 12-hour strike. Nandigram observed a shutdown Sunday over the killings.
The Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI), a Left opposition party, also gave a separate shutdown call.
"The bandhs (shutdowns) would send wrong signal to investors. The situation is disturbing," Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya said even as a Trinamool Congress procession was stopped on its way to his south Kolkata residence on Palm Avenue.
Trinamool Congress demanded resignation of the chief minister over the situation alleging that the Nandigram flare-up was an outcome of the direct instigation of his party leaders.
Nandigram, about 150 km from Kolkata, is a minority dominated area and considered a Left Front citadel.
It turned into a combat zone Sunday as villagers blew conch shells and moved with swords, sickles and staves sounding a bugle of war against the CPI-M and the state administration following the move to acquire land for the SEZ, including a chemical hub, in collaboration with Indonesia's Salim group.
Congress leader Manas Bhuiyan told reporters that 10 people were killed in Nandigram.
Among the farmers killed is Bharat Mandal, 28, who was shot dead by CPI-M men, villagers alleged.
Bengali news channel Kolkata TV, which captured the clashes on camera, said six people had died so far - it identified the others as Bishwajit Maity, Bishnu Maity, Sheikh Selim, Shankar Samanta and Bhudeb Mandal.
CPI-M state secretary and Left Front chairman Biman Bose told a press conference that the dead included three party activists while 10 of their men went missing.
Many CPI-M men also had to flee their homes and live in camps after the flare-up.
Nandigram villagers said the ruling party men had raided the village in police uniform and unleashed the nightlong violence.
TV footage showed a bullet-riddled Bharat Mandal, a member of the newly formed Bhumi Ucched Pratirodh Committee (Committee to Resist Eviction from Land), collapsing.
"The CPI-M men raided us in police fatigues and killed him," a villager said.
Local journalists said the attack was organised by the CPI-M men who started throwing bombs from across the river at Khejuri towards Nandigram's border villages like Sonachura.
The trouble started Wednesday when police had to fire several rounds to quell frenzied villagers who set a police jeep on fire, heavily injured cops, blocked roads with boulders and demolished a bridge to prevent police access to the area after the word of a land acquisition notification spread.
The situation has remained explosive since then, prompting Bhattacharya and the CPI-M to go on back foot even as the Left Front constituent Communist Party of India (CPI) criticised the former for its land acquisition policies.
The Nandigram assembly seat is held by the CPI while the Haldia Lok Sabha seat belongs to the CPI-M.
In East Midnapore, the government reportedly is eyeing over 22,000 acres of land for industrial projects.
On July 31, the state government signed an agreement with the Salim Group to implement various developmental projects, including a mega chemical industrial estate, to be spread over 10,000 acres in a 50:50 joint venture.
Construction of a four-lane road bridge over the Haldi river, from Haldia to Nandigram, has also been planned.
Link
Labels: Bengal, Nandigram, News
posted by Bimal 1/07/2007 09:38:00 PM,
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Kalinga Nagar tribals want a clear picture from GovtKalinga Nagar
Forget the MoUs that are lined up for implementation, the long-term survival of the existing units looks threatened.
The State Government’s dream run to build India’s steel hub in Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district, it seems, is on the throes of complete derailment with the tribals powered by “outside” forces holding ransom to the activities of the existing industrial units. Call it the longest economic blockade in the country’s industrial history or a seemingly endless fight for tribal rights, the loss is unprecedented. The January 2, 2006 incident in which 13 tribals fell to police bullets has virtually changed the course of the industrial momentum that had gained ground over the years. And, as victims’ families and vested interests continue to observe first anniversary of the bloody incident, the atmosphere in this proposed steel hub is completely hostile. Forget the MoUs that are lined up for implementation, the long-term survival of the existing units looks threatened.
If Jagannath Mandal (47) of Duburi is to be believed, everyone - from ruling politicians to Opposition leaders, from NGOs to local tribal leaders and from district administration officials to interested industrial houses - is playing “who will bell the cat” game. Kalinga Nagar is a risky game, so no one really wants to offer a solution or at least work towards it. The 365-day-long road blockade is enough proof of a sterile administration and an indifferent political class. Mandal was a member of the Bistapana Birodhi Manch (forum against displacement).
Mandal, of late, has realized that industry can bring prosperity, but what irks him is why the administration is dithering on the issue of rehabilitation and resettlement. It all happened for the Tatas, but the company authorities have simply disappeared post-Kalinga Nagar. Senior officials and politicians are mute. Even Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is sitting with fingers crossed. No one in the past so many days and months has come forward to initiate a constructive talk with the agitating tribals. As if initiating talks is a risky game.
Surama (29), who lost one of her family members in the police firing, is utterly confused about the whole situation - whether the Tatas are serious about the project, whether the State Government really wants Tatas to come up with the plant and whether the land allotted to Tatas would be given to someone else. Locals are tired of agitating, and the administration complacent. The Government, it seems, is unwilling to disturb the status quo.
This has encouraged outside forces (read radicals and ultras affiliated to the CPI Maoist) to take advantage of the situation. Jajpur superintendent of police Asheet Panigrahi admits that large number of CPI (ML) activists from West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh have infiltrated into Kalinga Nagar and Duburi. These men are busy fuelling hatred while the villagers with no clear picture are falling easy prey to these outside forces. Tuesday’s Kalinga Nagar anniversary rally by 5000-odd men and women is a pointer to this.
The volatile situation must end. But, the question is who will, and when.
Link
Labels: Kalinga Nagar, News, Orissa
posted by Bimal 1/07/2007 09:24:00 PM,
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Orissa DGP visited Naxal Area
The DGP visited police establishments in Koraput, Rayagada and Malkangiri in full uniform. He even traveled from Rayagada to Koraput by road, and in full uniform.
Arms and ammunition alone cannot fight die-hard ultras who have been on the rampage in South Orissa for nearly a decade. It’s the force’ morale that only can weaken the influence of extremists. And, to boost the morale of the men fighting on the field, senior officers must go to the field and feel the pulse of the force. Director General of Police Amarananda Pattanayak means it, strongly. After years of isolation, the force in this region is buoyed over Pattanayak’s three-day tour of the Naxal-hit districts.
The DGP visited police establishments in Koraput, Rayagada and Malkangiri in full uniform. He even traveled from Rayagada to Koraput by road, and in full uniform. Road journey and uniform are considered a bane in Naxal-affected districts. But, Pattanayak dared to shed this belief. An officer who fought from front the deadly Ulfa terrorists for years is, perhaps, ought to carry such attitude.
“Generally senior officers’ visit to these areas does not hold much importance for us since they hold meetings with SPs and DIG and go back. But, this time, the DGP spent time with us and interacted,” said a jawan of the 3rd battalion of the State Armed Police in Koraput. One could feel the difference following the DGP’s extensive tour, said a superintendent of police of one of the Naxal-affected districts.
Not only the district police offices and the armed police battalion, Pattanayak even visited the police barracks in these districts where sepoys stay. He sat there, interacted with them and tried to find out their difficulties. The DGP’s tour was less of inspections and meetings and more of interactions. In the DPOs, he also interacted with the accounts and ministerial staff and went around the storerooms. This is unusual and unconventional of a DGP. But, being unusual and unconventional is what Pattanayak is known for.
Pattanayak’s predecessor Suchit Das had once visited Motu in Malkangiri and Das’ predecessor B.B.Mishra never visited Malkangiri. Malkangiri had been a forbidden land for senior police officials including DGPs, but Pattanayak extensively toured the district, and in uniform.
At the end of his tour, the DGP had a strong message for the force and officers - that he means business, and men fighting on the field must be taken care of by the district police heads.
Link
Labels: CPI(Maoist), News, Orissa
posted by Bimal 1/07/2007 09:13:00 PM,
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SEZ policy ‘snub’ has partners sulking
Calcutta, Dec. 6: A day after the government said it would not allow “new big” special economic zones in districts where such projects are already lined up, Left Front partners cried foul over being “kept in the dark about such an important decision”.
Commerce and industries secretary Sabyasachi Sen had also said small SEZs that don’t need more than 250 acres can be considered for approval depending on merit.
“We have come to know through newspapers that the government has announced its policy on SEZs. But this was not discussed at the Left Front meeting,” alleged CPI state secretary Manju Kumar Majumdar.
CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan said the party’s national council, which ended its three-day meeting today, discussed the issue in detail. “We are opposed to setting up SEZs on agricultural land, whether it is small or big.”
RSP’s Manoj Bhattacharya said the government had gone back on its word. “At the last front meeting on December 29, it had been decided that the coalition partners would be consulted and provided maps and other details on land acquisition. So, how can the government announce its policy on SEZs without discussing it with us?”
PWD minister Kshiti Goswami, also from the RSP, accused the government of being “bourgeois” for its “new-found friendship with Tatas and the Salim Group”.
However, S.R. Pillai, who heads the CPM’s peasant wing, made it clear that there was no option but to acquire farmland “for the sake of industrialisation. The only thing is that the aspect of food security will have to be looked into before land acquisition”.
Link
posted by Bimal 1/07/2007 01:06:00 PM,
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Surrender of Rebels in Chhattisharg a Big Hoax....
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Subject:- Surrender of 79 Naxalites in Chhattisgarh"A Stage Performance Executed Perfectly By The State Government"......
Today's News Papers (4th January 2007) like The Hitavada,Dainik Bhaskar,Nav Bharat etc published from Raipur,Chhattisgarh has the front page news about the Surrender of79 so called Naxalites .It has been projected as the biggest surrender by the Naxalites since the formation of the State.
With so much criticism of "Salwa Judum" by alsmost all the organisation which go to Dantewada District it was very important by the State Government and Mahendra Karma to get such surrender done to make "Salwa Judum" look good.
Of the 79 surrendered rebels,26 belonged to Keshkal Dalam,10 to Durgghat Dalam,42 to Barda Dalam.Its surprising that all the rebels from different areas suddenly got together and decided to surrender in front of the CM in the State Capital.There were six rusted (Bharmar Banduk) guns brought by these maoist and the leader of this group who spoke to the media didn't even know to hold the gun.He was carrying the gun with barrel facing downwards around his shoulders.The surrendered rebels were made to raise slogans denouncing Naxalism and hailing the "Salwa Judum" movement.This doesn't make sense at all.
The State Government lead by the Buisiness Community of Chhattisgarh knows all the tricks in the book as to how to make a wrong look right."Salwa Judum" is wrong.And this surrender was a part of a well planned drama to make it look right.Is displacing millions of Adivasis(tribals) from their natural habitat to use the mineral reserve underneath the right definition of development???Why can't they be a part of this so called development rather being displaced for good??
writen By Prabath Pattavi
Link
Labels: Chhattisgand, CPI(Maoist)
posted by Bimal 1/04/2007 11:32:00 PM,
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Signature Campaign against Salwa Judam
Dear Friends,
Its been a year and a half since Salwa Judum started in Dantewara district of Chhattisgarh. Estimates are that anywhere between 500 to over a thousand (some even say 5000) people have been killed, over 3000 houses have been burnt, many women have been brutally raped and over a lakh are displaced. Despite growing evidence of violations, the government continues to follow the same path of militarisation. Please help in whatever way you can to end the situation - to stop the ongoing war against the tribal people in Chattisgarh through putting pressure on the Central Government start by signing this petition. The link is: /www.petitiononline.com/cpjcg/
Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF)
Khagen Das, President.
Rajkishor, General Secretary
Labels: Pettition
posted by Bimal 1/04/2007 12:27:00 AM,
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Violence re-erupts in Bengal over Salim land acquisition
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
In what can be called a sequel to the Singur movement, violence erupted again Wednesday over land acquisition for a project for Indonesia's Salim Group when police fired several rounds to quell frenzied villagers at Nandigram in West Bengal.
Villagers, who blocked roads with boulders and destroyed a bridge to prevent police access to their areas, said at least four of their people, including a 12-year-old boy, sustained bullet injuries in the unprovoked firing even as police said it was mob attack on the cops angry over the publication of gazette on notification for the acquisition.
'At least five policemen were injured in the mob attack. We have no report of any injury of the villagers,' Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia told IANS in Kolkata.
'It was a mob attack on the policemen,' Kanojia said. The injured policemen included two assistant sub-inspectors.
'They have fired at least 15 rounds and injured four villagers. The injured included a 12-year-old,' said Sheikh Khusbani, a teacher from Nandigram in East Midnapore district while another villager claimed that the police attacked processionists protesting against the notification peacefully.
'We will give blood and our life but not our land. We don't want industry. They are trying to grab our home and hearth,' said Samsur, a villager from Nandigram, summing up the explosive situation in Nandigram.
Footage shown by news channel Kolkata TV showed villagers digging roads to prevent police access to the area.
The agitation of the villagers was led by an organisation called Gana Unnayan O Jana Adhikar Raksha Samity (Committee for Mass Development and Protection of People's Rights), which is a constituent of the Singur Krishijami Raksha Committee (Save Singur Farmland Committee).
'This will continue so long the government continues to keep people in the dark and not maintain transparency. The Nandigram incident is a continuation of the Singur movement only,' said social activist Anuradha Talwar.
Talwar, an associate of Medha Patkar in West Bengal, said so long the government continued to bulldoze the people such things would happen.
The mob fury was sparked by a misunderstanding when the villagers mistook some men from the administration for a toilet project to be those arriving with notification for land acquisition.
The Congress and Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) have called a shutdown in the area to protest the police action.
Reports pouring in from the East Midnapore district said the angry mob also set on fire a police jeep in retaliation at Sonachura as violence escalated over the acquisition of land at Nandigram, about 150 km from here near the Haldia port town, for a chemical hub to be set up by Salim in collaboration with the government.
Reports said several people were injured in the firing even as people in large number were gathering in the area triggering fears of more violence. Heavy deployment of policemen was being made to deal with the situation as violence was spreading to other villages.
Hardly had the dust settled over the Singur land acquisition in Hooghly district, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya had a fresh troubled spot to cope with as tension gripped the area over land acquisition.
In East Midnapore the state government reportedly eyed over 22,000 acres of land for industrial projects.
Recently social activist Medha Patkar visited the area to support the villagers resisting the acquisition.
On July 31, the West Bengal government signed an agreement with the Salim Group of Indonesia to implement various developmental projects, including the setting up of a mega chemical industrial estate, including a chemical special economic zone (SEZ) at Nandigram, spread across 10,000 acres in a 50:50 joint venture.
Construction of a four-lane road bridge over the Haldi River, from Haldia to Nandigram, has also been planned. The proposed bridge would provide a link between Haldia and the proposed chemicals SEZ in Nandigram.
The agreement envisions the setting up of several urban development projects and projects for economic rehabilitation and social development in respect of those who would lose their land to the proposed project
Link
posted by Bimal 1/03/2007 11:49:00 PM,
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'Nepal king starts secret parleys to save crown'
'Nepal king starts secret parleys to save crown'
Kathmandu, Jan 3 (IANS) Nepal's King Gyanendra has stepped up secret parleys with royalists to save his crown, reprieved by the delay in installing the new constitution that will remove him as head of state, said a report.
"King begins secret meets at night," a Nepali weekly said Wednesday, saying consultations were going on in full swing inside the Narayanhity royal palace.The monarch, who faces the abolition of his 238-year-old throne during a decisive election scheduled to be held this year, has met three former prime ministers and an ex-minister, the Jana Aastha weekly reported.Marichman Singh, who was prime minister during the oppressive panchayat system when the king was supreme and parties were banned, as well as two royalist politicians appointed head of government by King Gyanendra in 2002 and 2003 - Lokendra Bahadur Chand and Surya Bahadur Thapa - are among the royalists who met the king, the report said.In 2002, King Gyanendra began controlling the government directly after he sacked elected prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and began appointing a succession of premiers of his choice.Lokendra Bahadur Chand succeeded Deuba and was able to begin peace talks with the Maoists. However, he was forced to resign after continuous opposition by major political parties.Surya Bahadur Thapa was nominated prime minister by the king after Chand's exit. But he too had to follow Chand after the opposition by the parties continued. Thapa's government was marked by the breaking down of peace negotiations after the army killed unarmed Maoists in violation of the ceasefire.The consultations revive the memory of 2006 when King Gyanendra was ruling Nepal directly as head of government.Faced with mounting opposition by the alliance of seven parties as well as the Maoist guerrillas, the king began hectic parleying in March, days before the fall of his government, to appoint a new head of government.Quoting unnamed sources, the weekly said the palace had also sent emissaries to India's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), that wants Nepal to remain a Hindu state with the king as its head, to drum up support for the endangered crown.Besides the three former prime ministers, the king also met Rabindranath Sharma, a former minister who heads a royalist splinter party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Nepal).Under Sharma's initiative, the faction began a "Save the Crown" campaign since late last year. Several of its rallies, demanding a place for the king in the new constitution, have come under attack by the Maoists.After King Gyanendra seized absolute power with the help of the army in 2005 and ruled for 15 months, the unpopularity of his regime resulted in the new government pledging to hold a constituent assembly election by June 2007.The nation will choose an electoral college, which will decide at its first meeting if the 238-year-old Shah dynasty of kings should become commoners with Nepal becoming a republic.A more imminent peril awaits the king before the election. Once the new constitution is implemented, he will lose his position as titular head of state and the property he has inherited from his ancestors as well as slain brother king Birendra, will be taken over by the government.However, the new constitution is being delayed due to differences between the Maoists and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.The government says the constitution will not come into effect till the Maoist soldiers lay down their arms under the supervision of the UN, a process that is likely to take several weeks."Don't worry. Everything will be all right," the king is reported to have told Chand, who was apprehensive the new constitution would further jeopardise the crown.An opinion poll conducted by a private television channel this week saw over 50 percent voters blaming Koirala for the delay, while just over 10 percent attributing it to manoeuvres by the palace.Koirala himself advocates retaining a ceremonial monarch, a stance that is the main cause of rift between him and the Maoists, who are demanding the abolition of monarchy.
Link
posted by Bimal 1/03/2007 03:13:00 PM,
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INTERNAL SECURITY SITUATION YEAR END REVIEW-2006
YEAR END REVIEW - 2006 MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
INTERNAL SECURITY SITUATION REMAINS UNDER CONTROL
MAJOR INITIATIVES TAKEN FOR STRENGTHENING POLICE FORCES
The overall internal security and law and order situation in the country remained largely under control during 2006, although there were some major terrorist incidents at some places including Varanasi, Mumbai and Malegaon. 21 ISI- backed espionage modules were neutralised during the year up to 21.11.2006 and 57 ISI-backed terrorist modules busted during the year up to 31.10.2006. A large cache of arms, ammunition and explosives was seized in Maharashtra. The level of violence in Jammu & Kashmir continued to show a declining trend. The security situation in the North Eastern States showed signs of improvement. The overall naxal violence was contained during the current year.
Jammu & Kashmir
The number of violent incidents declined by 15%, civilians killed came down by 28% and security forces killed decreased by 10% till November 2006, as compared to the previous year.
Prime Minister held discussions with APHC, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on May 3, 2006. He also held talks with Chairman, People’s Conference, Sajjad Gani Lone on January 14, 2006 and Chairman, JKLF, Yasin Malik on February 17, 2006. A Round Table Conference was held on February 25, 2006 in New Delhi and another on May 24-25, 2006 in Srinagar. As a follow-up to the Prime Minister’s talks with various groups, 51 persons, detained under the J&K Public Safety Act, 1978 were released.
Honorarium for Special Police Officers has been enhanced from Rs.18,000/- to Rs.36,000/- per annum w.e.f. 01.09.2006.
5242 two-roomed tenements at a cost of Rs.185 crore are being constructed for accommodating all migrant families presently living in camps at Jammu. In phase-I, 1024 flats are under construction at Jammu. Construction of 200 flats at Budgam as transit accommodation for the return of Kashmiri migrants is nearing completion at a cost of Rs. 20 crore. Cash relief to migrant families has been enhanced to Rs.4,000/- per family per month in Jammu and Delhi w.e.f. 01.07.2006.
As part of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) with Pakistan, Poonch-Rawalakot bus service was flagged off on June 20, 2006.
North East
The overall security situation in the North-Eastern States has shown signs of improvement. There has been a decline in violence in Tripura, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. In Meghalaya, the violence has been contained. However, in Assam and Nagaland, the violence has gone up due to increased activities of United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and factional clashes between National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN)(I/M) and NSCN(K). Mizoram and Sikkim continued to be peaceful.
As per the revised policy on Modernization of State Police Forces, all the North Eastern States except Sikkim are eligible to receive 100% grant of the approved Annual Plan. For Sikkim, it is 75%.
The existing Suspension of Operations/Ceasefire with NSCN (I/M), NSCN(K), United Peoples Solidarity (UPDS), Dimah Halam Dagrh (DHD), ANVC and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) have been periodically renewed
The Government also took initiative to start dialogue with ULFA in Assam and also declared unilateral Suspension of Operations. Since there was no direct response from ULFA, counter-insurgency operations have been resumed.
Naxal Situation
Except in Chhattisgarh, where incidents and casualties registered a steep increase, naxal violence in the affected States was contained during the current year.
The Central Government has ear-marked additional funds of Rs. 100 crore under the Police Modernisation Scheme for the naxal-affected States for purchase of de-mining equipment, latest telecommunication equipment and modern weaponry in vulnerable police stations.
An Inter-Ministerial Group has been constituted to essentially review the implementation of Centrally sponsored schemes undertaken particularly in naxal-affected areas.
An Empowered Group of Ministers, headed by the Home Minister and comprising some Union Ministers and Chief Ministers has been set up to closely monitor the spread of naxalism and evolve effective strategies to deal with the problem.
Recently, an Anti-Naxal Cell headed by an Additional Secretary has been set up in the MHA with a view to ensuring periodic review and close monitoring of the Action Plans drawn up by the States to deal with the naxal problem.
Strengthening of Police Apparatus
Under the Scheme of Modernisation of the State Police Forces (MPF Scheme), Rs.1,025 crore was spent in 2005-06 and the expenditure is likely to be over Rs.1,100 crore in 2006-07. Within the MPF Scheme, focus has been given on upgrading the standards of metropolitan policing and strengthening the critical police infrastructure in the 7 mega cities of Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. Starting from an investment of Rs.22 crore in 2005-06, expenditure of over Rs.100 crore is being undertaken in 2006-07 for modernizing the police in mega cities.
A Committee of experts, headed by Shri Soli Sorabjee was set up on 20th September, 2005 to draft a new Police Act to replace the Police Act of 1861. The Committee submitted the draft Model Police Act to the Ministry on 30.10.2006. Copies of the draft Act have been sent to State Governments for consideration, as they are competent to enact their own police laws.
A Core Committee constituted, to review VIP security issues, has finalized its report.
Government approved a modernization plan for 7 Central Para-Military Forces at an estimated cost of Rs.4,185 crore. The total amount spent so far is Rs.2,148 crore (51.3%). The forces have been equipped with 5.56 mm INSAS Rifles, bullet-proof jackets, night vision devices, AK-47 rifles, bullet-proof vehicles, various types of communication and surveillance equipment and various type of ammunition.
For strengthening the internal security scenario, Government approved raising of 79 battalions which includes 45 Battalions in the CPFs and 34 India Reserve Battalions. Cadres of CISF and CRPF have been restructured for improved effectiveness. Nearly 10000 posts have been added to the CRPF for meeting the needs of internal security and about 9500 posts to the CISF. 22 Battalions are being added to the ITBP to ensure better rotation and more diversified exposure to the new challenges of internal security. The Recruitment Scheme of Constables in CPFs has been revised so as to provide more job opportunities to youth of border States and militancy affected areas.
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Labels: Govt.Press Release, News
posted by Bimal 1/03/2007 02:21:00 PM,
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Naxal-sponsored traffic blockade against Tata, Essar projects
Naxal-sponsored traffic blockade against Tata, Essar projects
Raipur, Jan 2: Vehicular traffic was today affected on the first day of a Maoist-sponsored two-day road blockade in Dandakaranya area, which includes the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh and Garhchiroli area of Maharashtra, to oppose projects by the Tata and Essar groups.
All vehicles, including buses, stopped plying in interior areas of Dantewada, Bijapur, Narayanpur, Kanker and Bastar districts of Chhattisgarh, police told PTI here.
Maoists called the protest in Dandakaranya on the first anniversary of the firing incident at Kalinganagar in Orissa, in which several tribals were killed while opposing the handing over their land for a Tata project.
In a joint statement, CPI-Maoist's Dandakaranya "Special Zonal Committee" secretary Kosha, spokesman Gudsa Usendi and Chhattisgarh "State Committee" secretary Anup also called for opposing allotment of lands to Tata, Essar, Jindal and Texas Power Generation to set up plants in Bastar and other tribal regions.
A total of 10,000 acres are being "forcibly" acquired from tribals of Bastar for setting up a steel plant by Tata and lands are being acquired "at gun point" for Essar, the Maoists claimed. To express solidarity with the affected people, they called a `chakka jam' in Dandakaranya.
When contacted, Dantewada's Superintendent of Police Om Prakash Pal claimed the Naxal's bandh call had hardly any impact and the first day went off peacefully.
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Labels: Chhattisgand, CPI(Maoist), News
posted by Bimal 1/03/2007 01:39:00 PM,
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Three Janasakthi Naxals killed in encounter
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
Three Janasakthi Naxals killed in encounter
BHADRACHALAM: Three suspected CPI (ML) Janasakthi activists died in an encounter with police in the forest area of Paritalalanka in Kukkunuru mandal in Burgampahad division in Khammam district on Sunday morning. The victims are yet to be identified.
The police seized two .303 rifles, one springfield rifle and two DBBL guns from the place of encounter. A red alert has been sounded in the area as some Naxals escaped into the forest. All the police stations are on high alert to trace the Naxals who disappeared into the forest.
The incident occurred when a special police party was combing the area.
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Labels: Andra pradesh
posted by Bimal 1/02/2007 11:38:00 AM,
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NSD will conduct training camp for the rural youths
Dharmapuri Naxal Special Duty (NSD) wing police will conduct special physical training camp for the rural youths
DHARMAPURI: The Dharmapuri Naxal Special Duty (NSD) wing police will conduct special physical training camp for the rural youths, planning to attend Uniformed Services Test in January 2007.
The NSD wing inspector R Senthil said in a release that as per the instructions of the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police, the special physical training would be conducted from January 2 to 20 under the Dharmapuri District Socio Economic Development Scheme to enable the youth to attend the selection test.
The free coaching would be conducted at District Sports Stadium, Dharmapuri, R C Higher Secondary School, Harur and Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Pennagaram. Sports coachers and experts from the NSD wing would train the aspirants. Candidates who passed Standard X are eligible to apply. They should register their names with the coaching centres and the NSD wing inspector concerned, he added.
For further details the candidates can contact in the following telephone numbers: (04342) 266199. Mobile: 94439 44452, 98428 61505, 94432 76101, 94435 12218, 94430 52502, 94435 13903, 94434 63839
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Labels: Tamilnadu
posted by Bimal 1/02/2007 11:30:00 AM,
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Left-Wing Extremism in India
Left-Wing Extremism in India
Accounting for 27 per cent of the total fatalities in India during 2006, Left Wing extremism constitutes what Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh rightly described as the "single biggest internal security challenge" confronting the country. The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), today, exercises dominance over a large swathe of the country’s territory, carry out attacks on security forces and symbols of governance at will. Chhattisgarh has now emerged as one of the principal centres of a co-ordinated Maoist movement. Indeed, with 361 fatalities in 2006, Chhattisgarh is the most violent State after Jammu and Kashmir. While the number of Maoist-affected States in the country is currently pegged at 14, the movement has demonstrated the intent and potential to spread across the length and breadth of the country. The Maoist threat has now overtaken all other insurgencies in the country – at least from the perspective of geographical spread, with various levels of Maoist mobilisation and violence currently afflicting at least 165 Districts in 14 States. Over the past years, moreover, while fatalities in various other insurgencies have tended to decline consistently, fatalities related to the Maoist conflict have continuously augmented.
A total of 742 persons died in Maoist-related violence across the country in 2006, up from 717 in 2005. Chhattisgarh in 2006 emerged as the worst affected State – dramatically displacing Andhra Pradesh – and the Dantewada District was by far the worst off within the State. Read more >>>>>
Labels: Articles
posted by Bimal 1/02/2007 11:19:00 AM,
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Nepalese Rebel Protests Will Delay Polls, Prime Minister Says
Nepalese Rebel Protests Will Delay Polls, Prime Minister Says
Jan. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Nepal's rebels will delay elections planned for this year if they continue to create disputes such as objecting to establishing police posts and allowing poll officials to work, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said.
The government is talking to leaders of the rebel Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) about opening police stations closed during a 10-year insurgency, Nepalnews.com cited Koirala as saying yesterday. Rebels have agreed only to posts being established in ``sensitive areas,'' Krishna Bahadur Mahara, a rebel spokesman, said two days ago.
Election officials are needed to produce lists of voters to ensure the polls take place as scheduled in June, the prime minister said.
Nepal's government and rebels signed a peace agreement in November to end an insurgency that claimed the lives of 13,000 people and curbed economic growth in the Himalayan kingdom. The rebels will join an interim government that will organize elections for an assembly that will draw up a new constitution.
``We have agreed to re-establish police posts in very sensitive areas only on the basis of mutual understanding and not across the country,'' Nepalnews.com cited Mahara as saying Dec. 31.
Puspa Kamal Dahal, the rebel leader known as Prachanda, has agreed that officials may take up posts to help prepare the elections for the constituent assembly, Mahara said.
The creation of the interim administration, which was scheduled for last month, has been delayed because a program to disarm the rebels under United Nations supervision hasn't started. The handover will begin when monitors start their work this month.
Rebel Camps
Fighters from the rebel People's Liberation Army are gathered in 28 camps across the country where they will hand in their weapons. The Nepalese Army will place a similar quantity in storage. Rebel leaders revealed during peace talks last year that the PLA has about 35,000 fighters with 25,000 weapons.
The U.S. has yet to lift its designation of the rebel group as a terrorist organization. The rebels haven't proved they have shunned violence, James Moriarty, the U.S. ambassador in Kathmandu, said Dec. 31, according to Nepalnews.com.
``Kidnappings, violence and intimidation are continuing,'' Moriarty said.
Nepal's economic growth is forecast to shrink to 1.8 percent this year. A peace settlement will allow the government to cut defense spending and economic growth in 2007 may reach 5 percent, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat said in July.
The economy depends on tourism for foreign exchange. The country of 27 million people, located between China and India, is home to Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, and eight other of the world's 14 peaks higher than 8,000 meters (26,248 feet).
About 42 percent of Nepalese live below the poverty line and 80 percent of them rely on agriculture for a livelihood.
To contact the reporter on this story: Paul Tighe in Sydney at ptighe@bloomberg.net Links
Labels: Nepal
posted by Bimal 1/02/2007 11:10:00 AM,
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No air raids on Maoists: Centre
Monday, January 1, 2007
No air raids on Maoists: Centre
Bhubaneswar : Union home secretary V K Duggal here on Thursday ruled out aerial operations against Maoist rebels."The issue of air support has been misunderstood. It is not meant for pursuing Naxalites. The Centre is willing to extend air support, but for dropping forces, food, medicines, evacuation of the injured et al," Duggal said after a two-day coordination meeting of 13 Maoist-hit states that began here on Wednesday.
Duggal, who presided over the meeting, lauded police action to "neutralise" Maoists, whom he described as " misguided youths," in 2006. He also appreciated the Salwa Judum in Chhattisgarh and described it as a "people's movement."
Duggal pledged all possible Central help to the states and announced an additional assistance of Rs 100 crore for equipment and weaponry. "The Centre will help, but all states have to be self-equipped. They have to fill up police vacancies and provide effective training to their personnel," he said. senior bureaucrat agreed that activities of Naxalities like killing and extortion were akin to terrorism, but chose not to put the terrorist tag on the them. He kept on calling them "misguided youths".
He said, "We have deliberated on this. It is a very difficult choice. We prefer to call them Naxalites," he said.
Duggal patted the Orissa government for its performance in battling the Maoists in 2006, and pointed out that between 236 and 350 rebels were neutralised in the past 12 months (the highest ever) compared to 199 in 2005.
"I don't say this with a sense of pride, rather with remorse and pain. It should not be happening," Duggal said, explaining, " The rule of law has to prevail. There is no other option left in a civil society We want the misguided youths to come back to the mainstream and be part of the development process. They should take advantage of the multiple growth opportunities, instead of staying in jungles."
According to Duggal, the overall situation in 2006 was distinctly better then the previous years. Incidents of Maoist violence came down from 1,608 in 2005 to 1,457 in 2006. Similarly, there were 317 encounters this year compared to 295 during the preceding year. "Our information is that overall recruitment by Naxalites across the country has come down compared to previous years," he said, adding, "We are aiming to tighten the noose further but for obvious reasons cannot reveal the strategies."
On the Salwa Judum in Chhattisgarh, Duggal said, "Initially there were some reservation s but we found that it is a people's movement. People have shown courage to stop recruitment by Maoists. It has served its purpose," he added.
Advising the states to expedite development by leveraging Central schemes, Duggal summed up "2007 does pose a challenge. In spite of Nepalese Maoists joining the mainstream, inputs tell us the minds of Indian Maoists are still not very clear. Efforts will be made to bring them back to the mainstream, but police action will be firm".
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Labels: Orissa
posted by Bimal 1/01/2007 02:20:00 PM,
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`No change in strategy on Maoists'
`No change in strategy on Maoists'
Naxalism must be dealt with a multi-pronged strategy, says new DGP
HYDERABAD: The new Director-General of Police, M. A. Basith, has made it clear that there would be no change in the strategy on containing the challenge posed by CPI (Maoist) as it had worked well so far.
"The strategy worked well. Why should I change? Tell me, what is wrong with it," he asked media personnel while fielding questions on naxalism immediately after assuming charge as the DGP on Sunday.
Mr. Basith said like all other social problems, naxalism was required to be dealt with a multi-pronged strategy. It could not be left to the police totally. Of course, police took steps to check the problem from the law and order point of view. But, the Government also played its part well by weaning away youth from the menace.
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Labels: Andra pradesh
posted by Bimal 1/01/2007 01:57:00 PM,
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