Naxal annual report reveals plans

Naxal annual report reveals plans

NEW DELHI: The Naxal onslaught at Riga in Sitamarhi district of Bihar may be the first of a series of such attacks planned by the militants in areas where large mining, irrigation or industrial projects are to be set up.

This is suggested by the fact that an annual report of the Maoists, seized by security forces recently, had listed several upcoming projects in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh for attacks.

The Riga attack may just be a symbolic call for battle to spread the seeds of revolution in the nearby region, where the proposed Kosi irrigation project is to come up, security experts believe.

Incidentally, the Kosi project is on top on the Maoists' hitlist, with the annual report saying the region needed attention for not only repulsing the government machinery but also for mobilising mass support.

The Maoists had made their intentions clear nearly six months ago when they met to observe the sixth anniversary of their armed wing People's Liberation Guerilla Army on October 8 last year. The Red ultras, in their annual report (October 2005-September 2006), a copy of which is with the TOI, specifically listed sites for attacks.

Among these were areas having proposed bauxite mines of Jindals near Visakhapatnam and Polvaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh, projects of Tatas, Essar and Jindals in Chhattisgarh, Rajghara-Raoghat-Jagdalpur rail line, steel plants of Posco and Tatas in Orissa, power plants of Reliance and ongoing Narmada projects in Madhya Pradesh.

The ultras, in their eight-page report, asked their cadre to put up a brave front against these projects and initiate a Kalinga Nagar-type of agitation.

The Kalinga Nagar incident had witnessed killing of 12 tribals during a protest against Tata Steel's proposed project in Jajpur district in Orissa in January last year. Thousands of tribals, backed by Maoists, had opposed the plant fearing displacement.

Besides touching upon their future plan, Maoists also listed their successful operations, which included the Jehanabad jailbreak in Bihar, killing of 11 Naga jawans and attack on Salva Judum camps in Chhattisgarh, killing of 14 cops in West Singbhum in Jharkhand and attack on Malkangiri-Udaigiri jail in Orissa.

It is clear from the report's contents that they had been successful in such operations despite the government putting up a larger contingent of security personnel in place. It also reflects the naxals' intention to encourage their cadre by highlighting such incidents.

Toilet Paper of India