Upsurge of anger against Maoist monstrosity

The Pioneer, Feb 19, 2011
SAROJ MISHRA/ MILLU PATTNAIK | Bhubaneswar/ Malkangiri

Even as the Government of Odisha remained clueless about the fate of the Collector of Malkangiri district, R Vinil Krishna, and a junior engineer, Pabitra Majhi, who were abducted by Maoists two days ago, thousands of people took out huge rallies on Friday demanding the immediate release of the two officials and denouncing the Left extremists.

Hundreds of school children joined spontaneous marches in Malkangiri, Rayagada, Koraput and Jeypore towns. As many as 10,000 people participated in the rally at Malkangiri; many carried placards saying, “Free our Collector”.

Government employees, trade union activists, advocates and journalists joined the rallies along with college students. They demanded the unconditional release of Krishna and Majhi.

In Rayagada, the march was led by District Collector Nitin Bhanudas Jawle.

Similar rallies were held in Bhawanipatna, Athagarh, Parla-khemundi, Balangir, Gajapati, Kandhamal and even Rourkela. Many offered puja in temples and organised yajnas for the release of the abducted officials.

All colleges and schools remained closed on Thursday in Malkangiri town in protest against the abductions. Bus operators stayed off the road in support of the mass upsurge against Maoists.

Late Friday night, the Maoists are reported to have agreed to extend their 48-hour deadline to meet their demands by another 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the Maoists have sent a letter listing the names of their choice of mediators for negotiations. They are Prof Hargopal of Kakatia University in Andhra Pradesh, Prof RS Rao of Sambalpur University and social activist Dandapani Mohanty. The State Government said it had been able to establish contact with two of the mediators selected by the Maoists to negotiate the release of Krishna and Majhi.

“We have established contact with Prof Someswar Rao and Prof Hargopal. They are willing to mediate with the Maoists,” Chief Secretary BK Patnaik told newspersons in Bhubaneswar after a meeting at the Chief Minister’s office. The two mediators have accepted the State Government’s request to issue an appeal for the extension of the two-day deadline given by the Maoists.

He said the State Government had also contacted social activist Swami Agnivesh. He has indicated that the Maoists are considering extending the deadline for the Government to meet their seven-point charter of demands, including a halt to anti-insurgency joint operations (which has already been conceded), the withdrawal of BSF personnel and the release of 700 Maoists in jail.

The Chief Secretary said the Government would consider the demands made by the Maoists. “Many demands may come up during discussions. We are open to discussions,” he said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also appealed to the abductors to extend the deadline. “We have also appealed to them not to harm the Collector and the junior engineer held captive by them,” Patnaik said.

Hargopaal has told a TV channel that the deadline set by the Maoists should be extended, which is the first requirement for negotiations. Similarly, the State Government should adopt a positive approach and look into the demands of the Maoists, he said, adding it should not be difficult to release on bail some people, including women, and it is in the Government’s purview.

A Maoist describing himself as Prasad of the Andhra-Odisha Special Zonal Committee has issued a letter, saying they had voiced their demand to solve ‘basic problems’ several times and for the Government to act in a democratic manner. But the Government had snared ‘innocent people’, including teenagers and the elderly, in false cases and sent them to jail.

Though the Maoists had made many attempts to free these people, it had not been possible. So they were forced to abduct the Collector. The letter further warned if any raids were conducted in the villages and if the security personnel involved in combing operations were not withdrawn, the Maoists would be forced to kill the Collector. The letter demanded the release of three Maoists — Padma, Sudarshan and Santi Prasad — who are currently lodged in Malkangiri Jail.

The Maoists have cut off all communications to Malkangiri from the rest of the State by felling trees on vast stretches and digging up the main road connecting the district at Gobindapalli Ghati. Reports said the Maoists have also blown up a culvert.