Days after the attack on the Congress convoy in Chhattisgarh that killed senior party leaders, the Maoists were already planning their next strike. Here is the story from inside aMaoist camp, 100 km from Raipur, where an area commander talks of ahitlist and rings alarm bells louder than ever.
Deep Inside the forests, at the Maoist camps in Gariaband about 100km from Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur, there were celebrations over the successful attack on Congress leaders. This was after May 25. The party cadres, some them new recruits, shouted ‘ Long Live Mao!’ in full- throated unison. The excitement was palpable.
But the fight against the ‘ enemy’ was far from over. Plans were already being made for future strikes. Surrounded by the forest and secured his cadres, commander of the zonal committee Jaani Salaam was thinking ahead on the execution of the plans and a hit list.
Entering Maoist territory and meeting the top commanders involves both tact and toughness.
The camps lay beyond Gariaband, which was been formed two years ago and has been the block headquarters of Raipur. It took a 40 km walk from there to reach the camp. Even though rich in flora and fauna, lack of electricity, water, roads and hospitals makes it a laggard on the development front. This is where the Gariaband- Manpur diamond mine is located. From the time that Chhattisgarh was still a part of Madhya Pradesh, locals and foreign companies have been eyeing the mine. At present it is in possession of the Chhattisgarh Mines and Mineral Department – at least legally. In truth, the Maoists control it. The government proposes to have a wildlife sanctuary this area and a large area here has been earmarked for the Udanti Tiger Reserve. This too has pitted the government against the Reds who are against the reserve. To send a harsh message to the government, the Maoist central committee has established a new dalam , or armed squad, named Gariaband- Manpur Zonal Committee. Gariaband, Dhamtari and Mahasamund districts come under this committee.
The border areas of Orissa run along Mahasamund and provide an easy escape route for the Maoists.
A year ago, the Gariaband area had witnessed a Maoist ambush of a Congress convoy.
State congress president Nand Kumar Patel had been a target on that occasion too and had narrow escape. On May 25, he did not carry the same luck and was among those killed by the Reds. Geographically, the area is significant for the Left extremists because of the proximity to Raipur.
A man was waiting at the assigned location. He would be the guide for meeting the Reds at their camp. He was joined by a member of a sangham, or village committee. There are strict rules entering Maoist territory — cameraman Mahendra Kumar was ordered to return. The guide explained that the senior ( Dada) had instructed him not to allow the cameraman into the den.
If you need a cameraman they will provide one for you at the site.
You come with your tape only,” he said. Four other men came along the way, each one leading the way deeper into the forests. About 22 km inside, and finally it was at the heart of Maoist stronghold. But this was not a walk in the park.
Reaching the Maoist den meant hiding from the security forces and the police as well.
Entry to the camp offered the chance to see how the Reds operated, their programming and planning.
Jaani Salaam was there. His mother tongue is Telugu and he clearly had little appreciation of the workings of a democracy. He knew who had to be eliminated and where violence would be let loose. He made it clear that his dalam would kill Salwa Judum activists.
There was more. It was not just about boycotting elections — both Congress and BJP workers are to be targeted and there is a hitlist in place. Forest department officials are on their radar too, for marking land for the tiger reserve.“ We are opposing the tiger project because it will displace the tribals from their habitat,” said Salaam, “ The BJPled state government, and Raman Singh himself, will make this a police district. Thousands of policemen are deputed in Manpur, forcing the tribals to move to other places.
Raman Singh’s government is plotting against us. They come at night, arrest poor people, thrash them, label them as Naxals, put them in jails or kill them in staged encounters. Once a boy was called to the police station to be questioned on whether he knew the way to our camps. When the boy could not provide details, he was beaten up.” He continues, “ One day the police went to the village and pretending to have lost their way, asked four boys to show them the way out.
But they took the boys to the Manpur police station and thrashed them. They are terrorising innocents.
Many villagers are even implicated in false cases. We are struggling for justice as the government has become oppressor.” About another incident, he claims two boys were picked up by the police and taken to Manpur. The villagers sat hoping for the release of the boys. “ The forces under instructions from the government lathicharged men, women and children. The time has come to fight with guns,” said Salaam, “ Election is a business for political leaders.
But the poor want freedom.
This is an armed struggle to liberate people from the oppression of the government.” After the meeting, it was back the same way, returning to the same spot where the man had waited for us.
Throughout the journey to Gariaband, it seemed people were judging the strangers in their midst.
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