03-19-2008, 09:24 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>People's govt nowhere in sight, tribals desert Naxals</b> <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Vivek Deshpande
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
<i>Gadchiroli witnessing undercurrent of tribal alienation from Naxalism</i>
<b>GADCHIROLI, MARCH 18: âThey had said they would bring a government of the poor. After so many years, we are wondering where is that government? We got nothing but a hard, insecure life as wanderers. Thatâs why we decided to bid farewell to Naxalism.â</b>
Thatâs the common refrain from all the 43 Naxalites from six villages in Tadgaon area of Gadchiroli who had surrendered on Saturday. And thatâs what the 55 Naxalites from 11 villages in Etapalli tahsil, who had surrendered on January 12, had to say too. With two big chunks from their ranks surrendering, for Naxalites it could mean massive tribal alienation from their ideals .
<b>The Naxalites are now angry â in less than a week they have killed three tribals to send the message. While 20-year-old Rainu Dhurva from Dhobur village was killed on March 9 under the suspicion of leaking information to the police about their Debur forest location, two youths were murdered on March 16.</b> [Naxals your propoganda claims that you help tribals but you are killings tribals. Are these your true ideals naxals? Where are naxals lovers who praise these murderers? Shame on them].
Thereâs a hectic bid by Naxalite to form Janatana Sarkar (peopleâs government) in the two of their strongholds in the district. Much before the people gave vent to their feelings, the Naxalites had gauged the sentiment and, as the surrendered cadres say, had asked them to form committees and start development work by pooling in resources.
Tired of moving in the forest as nomads, with the encounter sword hanging on their heads, they say they are disillusioned about the ârevolutionâ dreams.
âI moved 15 years with dalams and even became a commander. But all this while I didnât see the peopleâs government turning into a reality. <b>On the contrary, the tribals have to bear the cost of sustaining the Naxalites in the jungles by providing food and armed support</b>,â says Sukhlal Atla, Chatgaon Dalam commander who surrendered on Saturday along with wife Renuka Kodape, deputy commander of Potegaon Dalam.
Rainu Pungatiâs travails as a forced Naxalite strongly underscore the sentiment. âI never wanted to become a Naxalite. I wanted to lead a normal life. So, I availed a government tribal fund scheme to get Rs 10,000 to start a paan kiosk in Bhamragarh.
But Naxalite leaders Dinesh and Tarakka came to my Tirkameta village and forced to sell it off for Rs 2,000. <b>Later, when I accepted the teacherâs job at Ekal Vidyalaya, they asked me why despite being a Madia tribal, I was playing into the hands of Hindus (Ekal Vidyalayas are run by RSS front Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram). They forced all Ekal Vidyalayas in the villages to shut,â he says.</b> [Naxals are scared of schools. <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->]
âOn one side I had to placate the Naxalites, while on the other, I had to face police action. The Naxalites lend us no support when police slap cases against us. All I earn goes in court cases I face as a Naxalite,â he adds.
All along, however, Rainu had to work for the party (CPI-Maoist). And in July last, he was sent to a dalam and asked to organise meetings and food for them. He had no time to look after his wife Sukhri, three daughters and two sons. Finally, being the most educated (up to Class IX), he was made secretary of the Janatana Sarkar.
âThey did some good work initially by getting the people better tendu-picking and bamboo-cutting rates, but nothing happened after that. We want roads, water, electricity,â says Atla, who had participated in 26 anti-police operations.
Atla said he got no treatment for months after being badly injured. âI was really tired of it all,â he says.
Atla and Renuka laid down arms before the police in Pospundi along with Debu Atram. The two were brought to the Tadgaon police station and were instrumental in getting all others from the Janatana Sarkar to surrender from the six villages. Debu, however, died on March 9 while he was put in the police station premises for security reasons.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Vivek Deshpande
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
<i>Gadchiroli witnessing undercurrent of tribal alienation from Naxalism</i>
<b>GADCHIROLI, MARCH 18: âThey had said they would bring a government of the poor. After so many years, we are wondering where is that government? We got nothing but a hard, insecure life as wanderers. Thatâs why we decided to bid farewell to Naxalism.â</b>
Thatâs the common refrain from all the 43 Naxalites from six villages in Tadgaon area of Gadchiroli who had surrendered on Saturday. And thatâs what the 55 Naxalites from 11 villages in Etapalli tahsil, who had surrendered on January 12, had to say too. With two big chunks from their ranks surrendering, for Naxalites it could mean massive tribal alienation from their ideals .
<b>The Naxalites are now angry â in less than a week they have killed three tribals to send the message. While 20-year-old Rainu Dhurva from Dhobur village was killed on March 9 under the suspicion of leaking information to the police about their Debur forest location, two youths were murdered on March 16.</b> [Naxals your propoganda claims that you help tribals but you are killings tribals. Are these your true ideals naxals? Where are naxals lovers who praise these murderers? Shame on them].
Thereâs a hectic bid by Naxalite to form Janatana Sarkar (peopleâs government) in the two of their strongholds in the district. Much before the people gave vent to their feelings, the Naxalites had gauged the sentiment and, as the surrendered cadres say, had asked them to form committees and start development work by pooling in resources.
Tired of moving in the forest as nomads, with the encounter sword hanging on their heads, they say they are disillusioned about the ârevolutionâ dreams.
âI moved 15 years with dalams and even became a commander. But all this while I didnât see the peopleâs government turning into a reality. <b>On the contrary, the tribals have to bear the cost of sustaining the Naxalites in the jungles by providing food and armed support</b>,â says Sukhlal Atla, Chatgaon Dalam commander who surrendered on Saturday along with wife Renuka Kodape, deputy commander of Potegaon Dalam.
Rainu Pungatiâs travails as a forced Naxalite strongly underscore the sentiment. âI never wanted to become a Naxalite. I wanted to lead a normal life. So, I availed a government tribal fund scheme to get Rs 10,000 to start a paan kiosk in Bhamragarh.
But Naxalite leaders Dinesh and Tarakka came to my Tirkameta village and forced to sell it off for Rs 2,000. <b>Later, when I accepted the teacherâs job at Ekal Vidyalaya, they asked me why despite being a Madia tribal, I was playing into the hands of Hindus (Ekal Vidyalayas are run by RSS front Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram). They forced all Ekal Vidyalayas in the villages to shut,â he says.</b> [Naxals are scared of schools. <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->]âOn one side I had to placate the Naxalites, while on the other, I had to face police action. The Naxalites lend us no support when police slap cases against us. All I earn goes in court cases I face as a Naxalite,â he adds.
All along, however, Rainu had to work for the party (CPI-Maoist). And in July last, he was sent to a dalam and asked to organise meetings and food for them. He had no time to look after his wife Sukhri, three daughters and two sons. Finally, being the most educated (up to Class IX), he was made secretary of the Janatana Sarkar.
âThey did some good work initially by getting the people better tendu-picking and bamboo-cutting rates, but nothing happened after that. We want roads, water, electricity,â says Atla, who had participated in 26 anti-police operations.
Atla said he got no treatment for months after being badly injured. âI was really tired of it all,â he says.
Atla and Renuka laid down arms before the police in Pospundi along with Debu Atram. The two were brought to the Tadgaon police station and were instrumental in getting all others from the Janatana Sarkar to surrender from the six villages. Debu, however, died on March 9 while he was put in the police station premises for security reasons.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->