Local businessmen funding Naxalites -- Home Dept

Local businessmen funding Naxalites -- Home Dept
SHAILESH GAIKWAD

MUMBAI, DEC 26: Forest contractors, tendu leaf traders and local businessmen in the Naxal-affected areas of Maharashtra are being forced to fund Naxalites in the state out of fear, according to the Principal Secretary (Home) M.R. Patilwhile deposing before the Estimates Committee of the state Legislature.

The Committee's report on the implementation of its recommendations to contain the Naxalite movement in the state was tabled only during the recent winter session of the Legislature though the recommendations had been submitted to the government in 1998-99.

Some Local businessmen have been providing funds to the Naxalites and the latter have been extorting money from oters, but the police has not been able to find ay evidence of this, the Secretary told the Committee.

Nobody comes forward to inform the police about such activities out of fear, though the police is suspicious of the role played by officers of the Ballarpur-based Ballarshah Paper Mills as well as tendu leaf contractors in Bhandara.

Two years ago, an officer of the mill was arrested on charges of supplying explosives to Naxalites but the police failed to gather evidence against him, he said.

Another reason for absence of evidence is that most of the businessmen falling victim to Naxalites actually exploit tribals, the official said, adding that the paper mill too is accused of exploiting local people by purchasing bamboos from them at cheap rates.

There are about 10-12 Naxalite groups operating in Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts of the region, most of whom are armed with sophisticated weapons like AK-47 rifles and explosives and have a strong network. The police find it very difficult to gather information about their movements, Patil admitted before the Committee.

In this regard, the Home Department has decided to declare Gondia, Yavatmal and Nanded districts as Naxalite-affected areas and a request to this effect has already been made to the Central Government. The Committee has recommended that the government urge the Centre to contribute 75 per cent of the sum spent for development on Naxal-prone areas and tackle the Naxal menace. It has also asked for formation of cooperative bodies of local tribals to collect tendu leaves instead of entrusting the job to contractors, who exploit them.

It has also expressed unhappiness over the government's negligence in filling vacant posts in the local administration. Naxal activities cannot be stopped unless there is development with regard to education, public health, roads, irrigation and employment, the Committee points out and recommends a special outlay for the development of the Naxal-prone areas. This will prevent the tribals from sympathising with the Naxalites, it states.