More villages slam doors on naxals

Author: Vivek Deshpande
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: July 26, 2003

With the state govern­ment organising a campaign to build up opinion against naxals in Vi­darbha, 14 more villages de­clared 'gaonbandi' (prohibition) against Naxalites this week at a police rally, taking the total number of such villages to 86.

The "gaonbandi" announce­ment came at a tribal awareness rally, organised by the police at Potegaon in Gadchiroli, where the Chamorshi Dalam of the People's War Group is active.

"Seven villages gave it (an un­dertaking to boycott Naxals) on gram panchayat letter-heads, while seven announced it through their sarpanches," Gadchiroli Superin­tendent of Police Rajvardhan told The Indian Express.

The State Government has of­fered to provide incentives, includ­ing Rs 1 lakh each to the gram panchayats, for announcing such boy­cotts, although it has not yet deliv­ered on the promise.

Ahead of the naxalites' Shahid Saptah (martyrs' week) beginning July 28, Gadchiroli police have also launched three confidence-build­ing programmes to win the tribals' trust.

Under the first, the police have started contacting Naxalites who have surrendered in the last 10 years.  Meetings are being held at police stations in the presence of block development officers and tehsildars to finalise government schemes for their benefit.

Rajvardhan said zilla parishads have several schemes for poor tribals. "They can get a bullock-cart, a house or even a gao talao (water reservoir)," he said, adding, "we are hoping to complete the exercise in 3 months."

Under the second pro­gramme, police are organising health camps for the families of active Naxalites.  "We are also counselling them and exhorting them to tell their sons or daughters to return to the mainstream," Raj­vardhan said.

"This is to send a message to the Naxalites that we are taking care of their families, with hope that it might prompt them to return to the mainstream," he further said.

The third programme is to reach out to the families of Naxal victims, know their problems and try to solve them.  "We are telling them that their son is the real mar­tyr, " the SP said.
 

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