After the release of second Italian hostage-Bosusco Paolo, 28 days after being in the captivity of the dreaded Maoists of Odisha State Organising Committee (OSOC), the fate of the tribal MLA of Laxmipur, Jhinna Hikaka, who is in the camps of Andra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) hangs in the air, giving nightmares to the BJD-ruled government of Odisha.
Despite the allegations from all quarters ranging from duality of the government in the action plan to help release of the two hostages to putting the onus on the alleged alliance of the BJD –Chasi Adivasi Mulia Sangathan (CAMS), a Maoists-backed association for the Red Rebels abducting the 37-year old MLA, the governance and principles of Naveen Patnaik-led govt is severely under the scanner. On Friday, the visit of CM Patnaik to the Ultras-dominated Koraput district following with the Southern Maoists outfit scaling its demands and after the statement of the govt to help give bail to the 15 members of CMAS and they subsequently rejecting the offer and demanding to withdrawal of cases registered against them, speaks the failure in the govt. policies towards controlling this movement as the Rebels have presence in the 22 districts in no time of the State Odisha. That the Ultras overt adamancy to fulfill their demands and their ways of using violence to get their demands fulfilled sounds alarming bell that they are on their way to upset the sacrosanct democracy of the Gandhiology-India.
Twelve years back, Maoists had their presence in just 3 southern districts of Odisha and now they operate in 22 districts of the State and in 10 districts to strike at their will. Once the peaceful and beautiful state of Odisha now feels the tremendous heat of the violence inflicted by the Ultras. Not only me, but everyone in this nation will agree with the ideology of the Rebels, the ideology backed movements which started in the land of Bengal in 1967, aiming to meet the demands of the lowly-paid peasants, but, the thinking of get their demands via violence is not right and never acceptable.
They spread their wings and are now involving in killing innocent people. They kill Forest guards, Rangers, Police officials, village police informers who are also Adivasi, who are getting Rs 5000 from the govt to inform them about Maoists only for the sake of employment. Derailing trains won't help them anyway. They don’t know that these small-scale don’t oppress them and these officials don’t have the powers. It is the Ministers and politicians who wield powers. Instead, if they know the corruption going on the administrative level, then they should come as officials and try to solve them. They should come to mainstream and do politics and become ministers and make the condition better.
They say that their working for the betterment of tribal citizen. But does bombing schools and bridges in villages of India, thwarting the progress of giving better roads and communication meant for the poors and tribals, help serve their prime purpose? The reality is that, now, it is the tribal villagers are in spot of bother. If they don’t work towards Maoism, then they will be killed by rebels and if they work for them, then they will be killed by security forces. The tribals used to enjoy the forests, now in fear of the existence of ultras, they don’t go inside their multi-useful jungles which has helped them to run their lives so far.
Second thing that has come to the light on twin cases of abductions is that the Rebels organization was not united. They are under different factions. They work for their own purpose. They don’t have any Central leadership and that is the reason why despite the appeal of OSOC chief Sabyasachi Panda to stop violence till the peace talks were on, their rival organization, AOBSZC continues violence and killed police officials in Koraput and abducted the BJD lawmaker Hikaka. This makes the picture clear that everyone trying to influence in their own area and rule and enjoy power.
Couple of days ago, they burned down 3 vehicles of a road contractor as the contractor didn’t pay Wasuli to them. The latest bunch of Maoists were functioning sans any ideology and they are derailing from their main aims and serving their own purpose. They know only way to get that through violence. After the Home Ministry ordered ‘GreenHunt’, their cadres were arrested and they fear of losing control and now in pursuit of getting their cadres back from the clutch of govt, they are resorting to such nefarious activities of abduction. On their demands note, just for the sake of giving a more tribal developmental purpose, they attach the clause like execution of govt. policies and laws in villages, but in return when the govt. trades its interlocutors, they are happy with getting their jailed cadres back and bolster the group. Cultivation of Opium, Hemp and Poppy, taxing money from villagers and extorting money have become their natural source of funding. They say police does not reach various places, but it is the police who fears and does not go there. So, we can say that it is nothing else but super form of Goondagiri.
Govt. Fragilities
The govt. failure to control to movement is a major reason for their existence. They exist in places which is inaccessible. This helps them make an extensive effort to ‘brainwash’ the villagers. The developmental policies fail to reach to the ground level. This abduction issue is the third time that they have taken hostage to senior officials. After this, govt. should make some stern steps to make sure that these incidents don’t occur again in future. Some stringent rules should be made to deal with such issues-like the one, Central govt. has made if hijacking happens that no communication with them. More police forces, more security force and a strong intelligence agency should be brought in to control the menace. Some of their demands like allotting lands of tribals from non-tribals are definitely justified. Administration must understand that this is a socio-economic-political movement and should be dealt with that. It can’t be done only by policing. Hence, it will be a Herculean task to indulge in a talk process with them and bring them under main stream. They should make special effort to enable administration implements their policies at the ground zero. Communication and transport should be improved allowing the villagers to live in contact with modern world. Economically, the places under siege should be given special packages for developmental work.
Tourism Effect
When I make my way to home on every occasion, me, family and friends decide to go for picnics. This time too although I am on a rehabilitation phase from ACL surgery on left knee, I told them that after I get fit, we will go to the nearby places of Nrusinghnath, Harishankar and Patra Dam. But, they denied it saying that our lovable place that soothe our hearts in a day out from busy life, Maoists have found their new homes in the nearby forests of my hometown-Padampur in Bargarh district.
Picturesque fountains, dense forests make mineral-rich Odisha a nature gifted State. It attracts a lot tourists, trekkers and picnickers throughout the year. It has taken a bite due to the Mao effect.
Daringibadi, being considered the Kashmir of Odisha, attracts plenty of foreigners. But, in the last couple of years, it is also home to the home of Sabyasachi Panda, the leader of OSOC. Hence, number of tourists has dipped.
Other picnic spots in Western, Southern and North-Western areas of Odisha are severely affected by the Ultras.
After the abduction of two Italian, which attracted international tensions, foreign tourists will also think thrice before entering the once liberated jungles of the State.
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