Widows' give-up-arms call to Maoists

SIMDEGA : Altogether 99 widows of people killed in Maoist violence and over 20 family members of active, slain and jailed Maoists came together for a discussion on 'Left-wing Extremism - what people gained and what they lost' in Maoist-dominated Simdega district on Sunday.
A couple of reformed Maoists and several panchayat representatives - some of whom are alleged Maoist sympathizers - also participated at the district police centre (line).
The speakers motivated the Maoists' kin to encourage them to surrender. The exercise was part of the home ministry's perception management initiatives to build opposition against LWE in Maoist-hit areas.
The gathering called maha panchayat was held in the district headquarters. People travelled from far flung places of Simdega, the only district which shares borders with both Chhattisgarh and Odisha, the two Maoist-hit states -- to participate in the event. Simdega was peaceful until a few decades back.
Simdega SP Rajiv Rajan Singh said it is the first-of-its-kind event in the country. "We did not invite police widows because then the Maoists' relatives would have justified killing policemen because the policemen also kill them in encounters," Singh said.
Mission Devi, wife of Ramchandra Singh, a commander of People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), said he is working for the PLFI for over five years. "I have four kids. It is very difficult to feed them because he is not with us," she said. Devi's eldest son Tilakdhari Singh said he is searching for his father. "I will try to search and motivate him to surrender," he said.
Basanti Devi said LWE has made her world dark. "I still do not know why the Maoists killed my husband. What pleasure did they get from ruining my family?" Basanti said.
Prabha Devi's husband and son were killed by the Maoists and her grandson was shot in the leg which left him disabled. She begged for a job for one of the dependents besides relief. Many victims and Maoists kin spoke on the occasion, some stories made their eyes moist.
They all agreed that Maoism has produced only widows and orphans. "The speed of development will increase if Maoists' energy is invested in it. It is ok if you love guns. Use the gun for the country not against it," said panchayat leader Sunita Balgo.
Former head of Kanshalpur panchayat Ajit Lakra grabbed attention when he walked onto the stage with a little girl whose father was killed in Maoist violence. "What was the mistake of this girl?" he asked. Lakra said, absence of all-weather roads makes it difficult for police to respond when villagers need it.
"In case of violence help reaches us late," he said and appealed for better infrastructure. Other panchayat representatives blamed poor healthcare facilities, unemployment, roads, basic infrastructure and insensitive administration for anger against the state and strength of the Maoists.
"When Maoists demand money, you call it levy. When government officers, who are paid to serve the people, demand money, what should it be called?" asked former Maoist zonal commander Mangal Nagesia, who shared the story of his reformed life to appeal to active Maoists to surrender.
"Hate and unpleasant reaction from people greeted me often when I was in the CPI (Maoist). Now, people love me and the state trusts me," he said.
The journey from hate to trust has made Nagesia, who contested 2014 assembly elections on a BJP ticket, confident. He is a well-known local leader.
CRPF Jharkhand sector chief Sanjay Latekar said Maoists are amassing wealth under the cover of fighting for poor and the downtrodden.
"Many Maoists are businessmen. Their children study in good schools. They are making people fool," said Latekar. Local MLA Vimla Pradhan and IG Jharkhand Jaguar Prashant Singh batted for public unity against the Maoists.