The Red Menace

Vykus · Post by **Vykus** » 23 Jul 2010 11:59

Intesresting proposal by the government to contain the Maoist menace....

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 202980.cms

NEW DELHI: In a bid to deplete the reservoir of antagonism in the central Indian tribal belt that feeds the Naxalite cadre, the government is engaged in fast-paced discussions to provide 26% equity in mining entities to the affected people, mostly tribals, where excavation of minerals takes place.

The Group of Ministers headed by Pranab Mukherjee met on Thursday to discuss the proposed Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act but the debate about whether the affected people should be provided shares in the company or directly provided a share in the annual revenues from the company without getting embroiled in distributing equity remained unresolved.

Pointing to the alienation of local population, incidence of Naxalism, backwardness of regions and lack of infrastructure development in the mine-rich belt of India, the ministry of mines recommended that the people affected be provided shareholding rights apart from the compensation given under the resettlement and rehabilitation package.

Though not going as far as asking for prior consent of the local communities, the bill provides for consultation with the local community before notifying an area for mining-related activities and consultations with the gram sabhas and district councils before grant of concessions for minor minerals.

The bill has also suggested prior green clearances under the Forest Conservation Act before notifying an area for mining. In a bid to check the miners escaping under the scanner by keeping the mining area just a bit lower than that requiring scrutiny for environmental impact, the bill provides that the ministry of environment and forests' recommendations on minimum area for minor minerals would be followed.

In a presentation made on Thursday to the GOM, the mines ministry estimated that the annual earnings in case of iron ore excavation could go as high as Rs 2 lakh per year per person.

But the debate within the government on how to make the benefits of mining reach the predominantly impoverished tribal population saw the GOM run for two hours with Virbhadra Singh, the Union steel minister, and law minister Veerapa Moily, intervening at length to the debate.

Union environment and forests minister Jairam Ramesh has already sent in a critique about some of the reservations the ministry holds over the bills.

While some cabinet ministers in the GOM, including Ramesh, had suggested that the people should be given a part of the annual profits, the bill at present provides that equity participation be mandated in case of companies and annuity payments from profits is provided in case of individual firms and cooperatives.

The GOM will also debate when it meets again on July 30 that if it continues with the equity model, should the returns on it be used for community development or be given directly to individuals. The bill as of now provides for the former with another cess on royalty intended for a mineral fund that would be used to build community infrastructure and services.

Issues have also been raised about loopholes in the bill, which could continue to provide super normal profits by using first-come-first-serve principle to give concessions and mines in non-notified areas. The mines ministry has taken the stand that it would be administratively difficult to auction small deposits and that super profits should be cut off by the 20% cess and 26% profit-sharing formula.

It has also been pointed out that the bill right now provides for competitive bidding in only cases where applications for prospecting and mining are not already pending. But it's been noted that most mining areas are already applied for and therefore competitive bidding by default would not really take place

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 23 Jul 2010 20:54

^ A form of mine leasing subject, very close to RMji's heart.

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 23 Jul 2010 21:47

CPI Maoists are the most crafty capitalists in the country: P Chidambaram : http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/art ... ?prtpage=1

The Naxals are in a way participating in a market economy. They get their rents from businesses and then use that to direct it against the state. Is there an issue with companies that pay this informal tax to Naxals which equips them to continue fighting the state?

Chidambaram : I understand their compulsions but I don’t approve of them. The CPI Maoists are among the most crafty capitalists in this country. They do business in violation of the laws, they collect rents, they don’t pay taxes, which makes them very crafty capitalists. In such a situation, if a company has to do business, sometimes it is forced to pay rent to Naxalites in the form of levy, extortion money—and these are rents in the economic sense — that’s a fact of life. Unless the State is able to provide them better security they will have to pay these rents to protect their investments. I am not turning a blind eye, I understand their compulsions and I don’t approve of it, but the State is helpless.

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 23 Jul 2010 21:48

^^^ People having to pay taxes to non-state actors is one of the signs of a banana republic.

It's good that PC is at least admitting the reality.

VinodTK · Post by **VinodTK** » 24 Jul 2010 18:23

Indian state seeks $1bln to counter Maoists

vijayk · Post by **vijayk** » 24 Jul 2010 19:37

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?266361
The Flint In The Mosaic
Even in the malleable worldview of the UPA, one man causes unease

* Seen by colleagues, compatriots as intellectually superior but arrogant, with an eye on the main chance
* Congress tongues wag at his political detour to Tamil Maanila Congress and the support he elicits from BJP
* "My way or the highway" attitude on issues like Naxalism and Chinese security fears etc sparks rows with ministerial colleagues
* Cultivates sections of Delhi media to get home ministry message across, often at odds with party and/or government policy
* Shadow of his past association with controversial mining company Vedanta as a lawyer/board director hangs over "Operation Greenhunt"

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?266363
The Trip Meter

Expectations were sky-high when P. Chidambaram took over as Union home minister in November ’08 against the dark backdrop of 26/11 and Shivraj Patil’s resignation. But the goodwill that greeted the appointment then, which he strove to build on with his proactivism, has dissipated now with the home ministry finding itself at the heart of several controversies and questionable decisions which have run counter to the Congress party line, causing much consternation in the Manmohan Singh government.

Islamic terrorists, their supporters in the media, Moaists and their supporters in the media, Peaceniks who want to blame BJP/RSS for Pakistani behavior are all united under the banner of outlook to kick PC out. They started their campaign and I am sure PM/Sonia are lending their hand to the campaign.

satyam · Post by **satyam** » 25 Jul 2010 14:14

Ficci opposes mining bill, debunks tribal compensation scheme

http://www.business-standard.com/india/ ... /102734/on

This is pathetic from ficci

Raghavendra · Post by **Raghavendra** » 25 Jul 2010 14:41

Dont be hasty in criticizing FICCI, they have some valid concerns and put forward constructive alterations. If you were in their place would you allow your company to become victim of hostile takeover.

Elaborating on the issue, it said that persons with vested interests may buy the shareholdings of tribals/local people and eventually gain control over the company.

"It is mandatory for a listed company to have 25 per cent float in the market. If 26 per cent--out of the balance 75 per cent--is allotted as compensation, the promoter will become vulnerable to hostile takeovers," Mitra said.

It also said that investments in the sector would take a hit as "no shareholders would like to invest where 26 per cent of the shareholders do not make any contribution to the company".

As an alternative to the scheme of giving equity, Mitra suggested that the government should consider giving one-time fixed compensation to the locals.

Raghavendra · Post by **Raghavendra** » 26 Jul 2010 12:46

Encounter between Maoists and security forces in Jharkhand
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 217108.cms

Six Naxals killed in an encounter in West Bengal
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 217326.cms

Abhi_G · Post by **Abhi_G** » 27 Jul 2010 19:34

http://www.dailypioneer.com/272032/Trai ... nders.html

Train tragedy: Pro-Maoist leader surrenders

IANS | Kolkata

A pro-Maoist leader allegedly involved in the Gyaneshwari Express train sabotage has surrendered in a court in West Midnapore’s Jhargram, police said on Tuesday describing it as a major achievement.

Jiten Giri, a leader of the People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), was sent to 14 days judicial custody after he surrendered.

He was allegedly involved in 10 cases including the May 28 Gyaneshwari Express sabotage, which led to the deaths of 148 people.

“Jiten Giri gave himself up Monday at the Jhargram court. He has been sent to 14 days judicial custody,” Jhargram Police district Superintendent Praveen Tripathi told IANS over phone.

Giri, 48, has been in the forefront of the PCAPA’s Muraboni unit in Jhargram sub-division for the past three years.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 27 Jul 2010 21:16

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100727/j ... 731028.jsp

Metala, July 26: The joint forces today gunned down six Maoists, including a top leader and a woman, in an operation reflecting a nascent strategy shift: the troops could increasingly be carrying out risky night operations for bigger success against the rebels.

The pre-dawn swoop that busted a rebel camp in the jungles of Metala, about 25km from Lalgarh, killed Sidhu Soren, secretary of the central committee of the People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities, and woman cadre Bela Karmakar.

Officers credited the success, the second-biggest against the Maoists in Bengal, to precise information about the camp’s location and hours of stealthy advance through dense forests in the night to surprise the enemy.

Their bravery will earn the 240-odd troops a paltry “reward” of Rs 200 per head: state police chief Bhupinder Singh said a sum of Rs 50,000 would be divided among them.

Security forces usually avoid night raids on Maoists because of the greater danger of ambush and mines, thus sacrificing speed of response and the element of surprise. But the Metala raid suggests they may be veering towards a “no risk, no gain” motto, emboldened by their first big night swoop that killed eight rebels near Lalgarh on June 16, inflicting on the Maoists their biggest loss in Bengal.

Maoist sources said Sidhu’s writ ran over huge swathes of the rebel belt in Bengal and his death would offer the police a chance to again “dominate” these areas.

“Local sources” had told the police some 16 Maoists had been roaming around Metala for a fortnight. Yesterday, two mobile conversations were intercepted, helping pinpoint their location. “We did not waste any time; we moved in at night to surprise them,” said West Midnapore police chief Manoj Verma.

The team split into two and travelled 10km in trucks to two points on the edge of the forest, then trekked the remaining 5km.

The advance Cobra party had already spotted a yellow tarpaulin tent inside the forest. Around 4am, shots were fired from the tent and a gunfight began.

At 5am, Tiwari was hit. “We followed the direction of the shot and discovered two black tents,” an officer said.

Around 5.30, the rebel firing eased off. “They started running. We chased them for nearly 3km, and shots were exchanged,” the officer said. “Around 9am, the rebels vanished deep inside the jungle.”

vijayk · Post by **vijayk** » 27 Jul 2010 21:28

When I was thinking about naxalite issue, I realized the CON party or Sonia strategy.

Sonia, having witnessed Indira and Rajiv's deaths at the hands of offending parties namely Sikhs and LTTE respectively, is afraid of what can happen to her or Rahul if the Naxalites perceive that this is her strategy. So she brilliantly put Digvijay Singh to keep pricking PC. She kept PC to do the tough job of eliminating Maoists who won't help her party and leave friendly guys but lets her dogs keep pinching PC. PC is defending his strategy. The left-wing media and Maoist/Islamist sympathizers are going berserk at PC. They keep planting these stories that PC is responsible for encounter of Azad etc.

If the naxals want revenge, they will bump off PC to show their anger. Sonia and Rahul will come out clean as if they are their supporters. Isn't it chanikyan or what?

derkonig · Post by **derkonig** » 27 Jul 2010 21:37

No theory on naxal terror is complete without exploring the EJ angle, wan't there an article sometime back in a national daily about how the INC is loathe to take action against the naxal terrorists as many of them are xian converts & therefore INC-pasand? The spread of naxal terror & the spread of xian conversion in the red corridor are heavily correlated. Besides, didn't the INC win 2004 AP elections with naxal support? Also, as it was posted on this forum, it is a bit curious that states with INC or friendly party in power are always better off in terms of naxal violence than other states. So it is unlikely that the INC would have given up on dabbling in terror to grab power or trouble non-INC govt.

negi · Post by **negi** » 27 Jul 2010 22:49

Gyaneshwari train accident suspect surrenders

JHARGRAM (WB): An alleged Maoist, Jiten Giri, suspected to be involved in the May 28 Gyaneshwari train disaster which left 148 passengers dead, has surrendered at the Jhargram court in West Midnapore district.

He was remanded to 14 days judicial custody. The 48-year-old Giri, against whom several cases including murder, sedition, arson, possession of illegal arms, loot and conspiracy were also pending, surrendered before the the Sub-divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Sk Mohammed Reza yesterday.

Giri, a resident of Moraboni in Jhargram sub-division and a Maoist squad member for the last three years, was suspected to be involved in the Gyaneshwari train mishap, a senior district police official told PTI.

Earlier, eight others, including Bapi Mahto, the main accused, were arrested in connection with the train mishap.

Suppiah · Post by **Suppiah** » 28 Jul 2010 15:49

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 227533.cms

Man lynched because villagers suspected he was Maoist...

How can they be so cruel? We should send someone smart and articulate like Arundathi Roy to reason with them...since farmers are likely to be busy during day, she could perhaps go later in the evening...

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 28 Jul 2010 15:51

How dare they lynch some one on mear suspision. The vilagers must have been instigated by the Capitalist / Mining cabal. I wish some one Lynches the Dottis as well

derkonig · Post by **derkonig** » 28 Jul 2010 16:03

^^^
Are you sure no hindoooo terrists were involved?

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 28 Jul 2010 16:14

derkonig wrote:^^^
Are you sure no hindoooo terrists were involved?

Now, that you mentioned it I deserve a kick in my A@@ for missing that obvious connection. The light bulb moment. I need a lobotomy for missing that.

On a serious note, I pray that the maoists dont kill a few innocents branding them police informants. As revenge for this actions of the villagers.

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 29 Jul 2010 06:23

Suppiah wrote:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 227533.cms

Man lynched because villagers suspected he was Maoist...

How can they be so cruel? We should send someone smart and articulate like Arundathi Roy to reason with them...since farmers are likely to be busy during day, she could perhaps go later in the evening...

I hear she is the most inspirational woman as per Forbes. So she may do a great job. But seriously is Forbes nuts ?

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 29 Jul 2010 17:22

She belongs in a padded room so that she does not hurt herself.

jaibhim · Post by **jaibhim** » 29 Jul 2010 17:40

She's been surprisingly quiet for the past few days! The calm probably is deceptive. She and her jhollawallahs and the JNU troupe and the maoist mouthpiece kafila are waiting to strike back and spit on India's democracy and the whole indian national project, through the guardian and other known aveneues.

Suppiah · Post by **Suppiah** » 29 Jul 2010 21:22

Today Tata group has taken out first page ads because it is JRD's anniversary...he is quoted in ad as saying "I dont want India to be a superpower, I want India to be happy!"

Cant help but think...Tata-ji, please rest in peace, we have a whole lot of Stalinist mass murderers, rapist goons, maoist eye-gougers, Beijing puppet lefties, intellectual and yellow media puppets of these traitors that are working hard so you need have no fear on the superpower part...

Raghavendra · Post by **Raghavendra** » 30 Jul 2010 20:24

Maoist rehab package showing results: Buddha http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20100730/81 ... sults.html

abhishek_sharma · Post by **abhishek_sharma** » 31 Jul 2010 06:58

Airport in Maoist hotbed handed over to army

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Airport-i ... 80179.aspx

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 31 Jul 2010 10:03

Raghavendra wrote:Maoist rehab package showing results: Buddha http://in.news.yahoo.com/48/20100730/81 ... sults.html

Wonderful news, Lets hope that the naxals rehabilitated are protected from the love of the revolutionaries.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 02 Aug 2010 20:03

Looks like another pig is trapped.

Another Maoist leader Varanasi Subrahmanyam, alias Vimal/Srikant/Saroj is beleived to be trapped by Police (AP?). Maoist warm Varavara Rao demanded that police submit him in the court.

This guy replaced recently killed Azad as the Maoist central party spokesperson.

పోలీసుల దిగ్భంధంలో మావోయిస్టు అగ్రనేత వారణాసి సుబ్రహ్మణ్యం
ఆజాద్‌లా అంతమొందించే ప్రయత్నం..

చర్చలకు గండికొట్టేందుకు చిదంబరం కుట్ర
కోర్టులో హాజరుపరచాలి: వరవరరావు.. మా అదుపులో లేరు: రాష్ట్ర పోలీసులు

హైదరాబాద్ : గత ఐదు రోజులుగా పోలీసు దిగ్బంధంలో ఉన్న మావోయిస్టు పార్టీ కేంద్ర కమిటీ సభ్యుడు వారణాసి సుబ్రహ్మణ్యం అలియాస్ విమల్, శ్రీకాంత్, సరోజ్‌ను తక్షణం కోర్టుకు హాజరు పెట్టాలని విరసం నేత వరవరరావు డిమాండ్ చేశారు. మావోయిస్టు అగ్రనేత ఆజాద్ వలె విమల్‌ను కూడా ఎన్‌కౌంటర్ చేసే ప్రమాదం ఉందని ఆదివారం ఓ ప్రకటనలో ఆయన ఆందోళన వ్యక్తం చేశారు.

Nihat · Post by **Nihat** » 02 Aug 2010 23:56

what is implied by "trapped" here, is he cornered in a forest or formely arrested.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 03 Aug 2010 00:17

The report is not clear. The report says he is cornered but Varavara Rao says he was arrested few days back.

Nihat · Post by **Nihat** » 03 Aug 2010 01:50

A slightly less ambiguis report from Express Buzz

Cops encircle Maoist leader

HYDERABAD: Maoist central committee leader Varanasi Subramanyam is said to have been 'encircled' by the police and Maoist sympathisers are fearing harm to him by the police. Virasam member Vara Vara Rao said Subramanyam alias Suraj alias Srikanth alias Sukanth was encircled by police somewhere near Delhi. "We have specific information that Subramanyam is encircled by the police though we don't know the exact location. It is possible he is in Delhi as he operates mostly in North India,'' Vara Vara Rao told Express over telephone.

Subramanyam, who hails from Prakasam, is a senior member of the Maoist party. He worked for the party at Srikakulam and also in the Singareni Karmika Sangham (Sikasa) before shifting to North India in 1986 and becoming a Central Committee member.

“Subramanyam is said to be in possession of a letter given to him by Swami Agnivesh, who is mediating between the Centre and the Moaists for talks.

The letter is supposed to be handed over to Maoist secretary Ganapat h i , ’ ’ Vara Vara Rao said.

After the ‘encounter’ of senior Maoist leader Azad in AP, Agnivesh met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to initiate peace talks with the Maoists after he got a cold response from Union home minister P Chidambaram.

“We fear that the police might cause harm to him.

He should be produced in court , ’ ’ Vara Vara Rao said, adding that the PM should intervene and ensure Subramanyam’s safety.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 03 Aug 2010 09:48

^^^^ Looks like Varanasi Subramanyam realised a bit early that his goose is cooked, and he is getting encircled by the police. Got a chance to make a couple of phone calls to stooges like Vara Vara Rao, who then starts hollering. The silver lining (in the dark cloud) I see is that Naxalites have now started fearing for their lives. The fear of death, now makes them whine when the police close in them and all bravado is replaced with frantic calls for help.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 04 Aug 2010 19:02

Another Maoist attack on CRPF jawans in Dantewada District.

Initial reports claimed 75 jawans missing and 6 dead. Later Bastar IG Long Kumar confirmed that all the CRPF jawans are safe and the 6 dead were Maoists.

Any new details?

Abhi_G · Post by **Abhi_G** » 04 Aug 2010 19:07

No updates.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/273848/70-c ... attle.html
70 cops reportedly missing after gunbattle

About 70 police personnel were reported missing on Wednesday as a "major" gun battle with heavily armed Maoists continued in a forest in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada area, but the state police chief said his men "seem to be safe".

"The gunfight that began just past 11 a.m. is still on though now its intensity is not as fierce as the first couple of hours. All our jawans seem to be safe but it's better to wait till the battle ends completely and the forces come out from the forested area," Director Genral of Police Vishwa Ranjan told IANS.

Ranjan, who is monitoring the gunfight from the police headquarters here, said some 100 policemen came under attack from the Maoists and a 75-member reinforcement sent later was also engaging the rebels.

The gunfight began when Maoists attacked a search team of the state police in a thickly forested area of Gumiapal, close to Kirandul, about 420 km south of capital Raipur, an iron ore mining facility of India's top iron ore producer NMDC Ltd.

"About 70 police personnel are missing," a police source here said.

"Additional forces have been rushed to the site. The gun battle is on amid heavy rain. I can't comment now about casualties or injuries but it's a major fight," the police officer told IANS.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 04 Aug 2010 19:39

Abhi G cross posting from internal security watch for the update

Encounter with Naxals in Dantewada over, no casualties

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... 256151.cms

Muppalla · Post by **Muppalla** » 04 Aug 2010 20:21

Probably the maoists may be making a cover for their top leaders. We will know tomorrow who is dead among the naxals and if there is any big fish.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 04 Aug 2010 20:31

Aditya_V wrote:
Encounter with Naxals in Dantewada over, no casualties

I can see already skeptic comments in the ToI page. Hope there is no cover up or hushing up of casualties if any

. Earlier there were reports that some police men were killed, and a large number of missing. Now within 2 hours the story changes.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 04 Aug 2010 20:38

Sachin +1

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 05 Aug 2010 02:06

Sachin wrote: I can see already skeptic comments in the ToI page. Hope there is no cover up or hushing up of casualties if any . Earlier there were reports that some police men were killed, and a large number of missing. Now within 2 hours the story changes.

Given the transparent nature of GOI and DDM (on Maoist's part), I doubt the possibility of hiding CRPF casualties.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 05 Aug 2010 10:00

Scanned vernacular and English media for latest updates. A vernacular daily said that a group of private security personnel died in a bomb blast, when there vehicle was ambushed. It seems the confusion of police casualties were because the communication was lost with the police party.

RamaY · Post by **RamaY** » 05 Aug 2010 19:38

^ In that Dantevada attack no CRPF jawans were killed. A telugu paper says 6 Naxals died in the encounter

Great work CRPF!!! Be safe and be strong!!!

Dilbu · Post by **Dilbu** » 05 Aug 2010 22:08

RamaY wrote:^ In that Dantevada attack no CRPF jawans were killed. A telugu paper says 6 Naxals died in the encounter

Great work CRPF!!! Be safe and be strong!!!

Yes!!