Author: Nityanand Shukla/ Ranchi
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: July 8, 2003
The Maoist Communist Centre is raising
funds to appeal against the death sentences awarded to three activists
in a massacre case in 2001. According to officials, the banned Naxalite
group has directed the residents of Beltu to pitch in for the fund.
"Villagers, who work in hotels or
as rickshawallahs at Hazaribagh are being forced to give the amount decided
by the MCC to its cadres. It is a tough job to provide security to everyone.
The villagers have no option but to follow the directives," said an intelligence
official. The MCC has threatened the villagers that they would face severe
consequences if they fail to submit the amount.
Additional District and sessions
judge of Hazaribagh A K Chand on June 16, while delivering a 39-page judgment,
had termed the case as the "rarest of the rare cases". He awarded death
sentence to three and life term to 23 MCC activists who were allegedly
involved in the killing of 14 people. After the judgement was delivered,
the MCC held two meetings and passed a death sentence against the Judge.
According to reports, the MCC has pasted posters in rural areas of Hazaribagh
district terming the judgment wrong.
"Khoon ka badla khoon. The rule
of bullets and gallows will not work. These are not acceptable to us. The
people's court is supreme and the judges are agents of the imperialist
class," the MCC poster reportedly said. Considering the threat, heavy security
arrangement has been given to the judge. According to reports, the Sessions
Judge had stopped attending court for a few days and commandos are providing
security to his family members.