In a move that is sure to rake up unwelcome memories of Salwa Judum, a breakaway group from the Naxals is helping the state establish control over areas of Jharkhand. The Triteeya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC), also remains banned officially by the government, but with a young squad, the youngest of which is 14 and the oldest is 30, the group claims to have greater public acceptance than the Naxals.
The group which lives in forest camps, and follows the same ideology as the Maoists, with the exception that the TSPC doesn’t believe in targeting government officials and local politicians, a move that has reportedly earned them a tacit understanding with the state police.
The TSPC was reportedly formed after the police took the father of the group’s founder, Brajesh, for medical treatment and helped him escape the death threats of Maoists. Describing the genesis of the group, a Jharkhand Police official said: “We also arranged for Brajesh to meet a senior officer. He already had guns; we gave him another Rs 80,000. Some officers arranged for rifles. Thus the TSPC was born, with 140 of his boys switching over from the MCC to Brajesh’s side.”
From guaranteeing the security of telecom companies and mobile towers, to allowing roads running through their areas to be built for a commission, the TSPC claims that they are ensuring government works reach the people. “Government officers consult us before implementing schemes. We ensure they work. Compare this with Maoist areas. No block development officer here can give the excuse of not visiting interior areas,” TSPC spokesperson Sagar is quoted as saying in the report.
Facing cases mainly of extortion and bullying, with the police looking the other way when it comes to inter-group killings, the TSPC is even being credited with bringing down Naxal-related violence in districts like Chatra.
However, while the current understanding between the state and the group hasn’t faced any strain, the police are hopeful that once they have tackled the Maoists the group will lay down their arms and surrender. But despite the fact that some senior TSPC functionaries’ relatives have contested elections in the past, a peaceful resolution isn’t certain.
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