Place: Nanda Ka Purwa village of Kaushambi district, east UP
Programme: Meeting of Lal Salaam activists brandishing weapons and raising anti-government slogans.
This is a new challenge before the UP government — Lal Salaam, a rabid group of Maoists out to capture land they claim as their own. The group is fast becoming a threat to law and order in several eastern districts.
A senior UP police official said, “Lal Salaam activists have been holding meetings, which are attended by hundreds of supporters… we have received reports that these activists openly brandish firearms and sharp-edged weapons, including swords and some implements used in farming.”
“They have openly been defying Section 144 (prohibitory orders) and raising slogans inciting class hatred,” he said. What he is loath to admit is that policemen are reduced to mute spectators at these gatherings.
Mofussil correspondents say the Lal Salaam menace is increasing by the day and the local government machinery can do little. The main reason for the outfit’s steady growth is “local support”. Lal Salaam activists are eyeing villages with a sizeable tribal and SC population.
This is indeed a major embarrassment for chief minister Mayawati, a self-proclaimed crusader for the rights and welfare of these people. “We are aware of the problem and are taking strict steps to curb the activities of this group,” says additional DG (law & order) Brij Lal. A circular sent out to police chiefs of the affected districts directs them to keep a vigil on the group’s activities and take preventive action.
“We have identified some people in Allahabad and adjoining areas who have been patronising this group… we are taking action to ensure Lal Salaam does not gather support among common people,” says Brij Lal.
UP police officials say that, hitherto, Maoist activities were confined to the Kaimur mountain ranges spread across Sonebhadra, Mirzapur and Chandauli districts in eastern UP.
There has been no violence or bloodshed in this region in the recent past. But tribals have taken over vast tracts of forest land for farming, claiming the land was theirs as they had been living there for generations.
Successive governments have run schemes in the Maoist areas to generate employment opportunities and promote cottage industries. But bungling and corruption have hit these schemes. Lal Salaam might have been born out of the failure of the government machinery.
Comments