New Delhi: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Naxal-hit Chattisgarh witnessed a hostage drama carried out by the outlaws, the security establishment has warned that local criminal gangs, mafia and other criminal elements have infiltrated the Maoist ranks. Sunday’s hostage drama and the brutal killing of a tribal villager is learnt to have been executed by the local Maoists, largely consisting of local criminal elements who are running their own fiefdom to block developmental projects and serve their own interests — which is proving to be a bigger worry for the security agencies whose anti-Naxal operations are now facing a movement that is fast becoming “splintered and faceless’’.
As per the intelligence reports given to the Union home ministry, the Maoists are striking up partnerships with local civil and forest contractors, mine-owners and petty businessmen. “They are no more class enemies but partners in looting the country’s resources,” an official said.
This trend has emerged in states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh in the last few years.
Sunday’s execution and hostage crisis is learnt to have been orchestrated by the local Naxal commanders who are no longer in control of the Maoist central leadership which is more or less becoming redundant, a top home ministry official said.
“The Maoist cadres in these states are no longer in control of the CPI (Maoist) politburo or central committee brass. These local cadres are in collusion with other mafia, criminals and businessmen to indulge in extortion, corruption and mindless killing of civilians — even if they are adivasis or villagers,” said the official. With Maoists split in tribal and non-tribal ranks, the abduction of 300 villagers comes as a indication of the ‘’desperate and dangerous’’ tactics of the local outlaws.
