Battlelines redrawn: Tribals turn on Maoists

In the Jhargram-Lalgarh belt in Bengal,where the Maoists have been most active,many tribal-dominated villages like Nimdi,Mango,Ghatshila,Chakulia and Chandil,all from Jharkhand,have joined the Committee.

“The majority of the tribal population in these areas surrounding the Dalma Range is now boycotting the Maoists. Many are still with the ultras because of fear. The tribals opposing the Maoists have also set up a committee of their own to protect themselves. We believe Kishenji and CPI (Maoists) have done no good for the tribals. There is deprivation here,but Maoists have no solution for it,” said Gurucharan Kisku alias Marshal,who broke away from CPI (Maoists) and was present in one of the meetings of the Committee.

Sources said the armed group has also established links with the Gana Pratirodh Committee,an unarmed anti-Maoist faction active in Jangalmahal. It all began in December 2009,when tribals from five police station areas in Jharkhand held a meeting at Patamda,not far from the Bengal border,to declare a “war” against the Maoists. Marshal,who recently accused Kishenji of dishonouring the tribal sentiment and culture,also attended the meeting. According to sources,Marshal has with him a band of 150 gunmen.

Maoists are also said to be losing support in their strongholds like Chhoto Pelia,Baro Pelia and Kantapahari in West Midnapore. Chhoto Pelia was the headquarters of the arrested PCAPA leader Chhatradhar Mahato.

Besides the Sendra Committee,Maoists are also facing hostility from other outfits that have sprung up in their strongholds. Bharat Jakat Majhi Marwa,an outfit of traditional Adivasi community leaders opposed to the ultras,has considerably gained ground. Three Jharkhand Party factions — Jharkhand Party (Aditya),Jharkhand Party loyal to Chunibala Hansda,an MLA from Jamboni in Purulia district,and Jharkhand Party (Babu Bose) have already asked their supporters to boycott the Maoists.