Perturbed by the loss of support Maoists are adopting new strategies in the war for the minds of people.
NAGPUR: Perturbed by the loss of support among the locals and the attrition among their ranks as a result of the government's surrender policy, Maoists in the state are adopting new strategies in the war for the minds of people.
Maoists are playing the same coin to counter the Maharashtra government's surrender policy, which has been fairly successful in the Naxalite stronghold of Gadchiroli. DNA has learnt from state intelligence sources that the Naxalites have distributed pamphlets in Hindewada and Malampador villages of south Gadchiroli asking 'police informers' to surrender to Maoists-sponsored Lok Adalats.
"This alternative surrender policy is aimed to pressurise and terrorise villagers, who are losing faith in them," says Shirish Jain, the Superintendent of Police (Gadchiroli). "This policy has also been floated in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh districts." Experts who have been following the strategy of the Maoists for several years say this is a departure from their usual strategy of eliminating 'police informers' and points to a recognition among the top leadership of the need to build up public support.
"Eighty-three top Naxalite leaders have surrendered before the police in Vidarbha over the past year after Maharashtra introduced the surrender policy. It has caused a considerable dent in the ranks of the Maoists," says Jain. Maharashtra introduced its surrender policy in August 2005.
The edict issued in Telugu, Marathi and Goendadi languages say the 'police informers' would be spared if they surrender before their Lok Adalats. "This as a sign of growing desperation among Maoists," says Jain. The Maoists have also threatened women self-help groups, which were formed with government help last year as part of its larger strategy to win public support. The police are worried as the threat seems to be working with 14 tribal self-help groups folding up in the Arjuni Morgaon block of Gadchiroli. "The next target seems to be the Village Protection Squads," an intelligence officer told DNA.
Experts say it is time for the government to start out-thinking the Maoists. "It's time to have a rethink," says Suresh Dwadashiwar, editor of Lokmat and writer who embarked on a peace rally to Asaralli in the Naxalite dominated tribal hinterland in March.
"If the Maoists are fighting an ideological battle, how do you justify their killing of civilians or rape of young women or edicts against sending children to schools? This can't be a revolution and this isn't. That is why we have to tell people about realities that defy Naxal romanticism," he says.
Maoists have killed over 150 tribals in the last three years and over 250 over the last decade for 'violating' their edicts and warnings.
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