Skip to main content

Banned Maoist party protests in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, claims support across globe

By Harsh Thakor* 
Despite being a banned and designated as terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act since 2009, the Communist Party of India (Maoist) is said to have successfully implemented a one-day bandh across Kolhan division in Jharkhand on July 10th, with repurcussions in the neighbouring Chhattisgarh. The bandh was called to protest against alleged police brutality in the Kolhan-Saranda region.
As part of their protest action, the cadres of the Maoist party uprooted fish plates from the Howrah-Mumbai main railway line, forcing all train movements to halt. The sabotage to the railway line took place between 2 AM and 3 AM. Security forces rushed to the scene upon receiving information about the incident.
They erected banners across the railway tracks between pole numbers 378/35A and 378/31A-35A on the third line of the Manoharpur-Jaraikela section. The banners, attributed to the CPI (Maoist) Southern Zonal Committee, called for supporting the bandh and condemned alleged police massacre in the Kolhan-Saranda area.Train services were disrupted for approximately five hours, from 2 AM to 6:10 AM, when security forces removed the banners and completed their investigation.
The bandh’s impact extended beyond the railways. In Manoharpur and Anandpur blocks, normal life was paralysed as government and non-government establishments remained closed. The streets were mainly boycotted, with both long-distance and local vehicular traffic brought to a complete halt. Only essential services such as ambulances, milk supply vehicles and those related to hospital emergencies could function. In Chaibasa, the district headquarters of West Singhbhum, long-distance bus services were suspended. 
The bandh was called by Ashok, a spokesperson for the CPI (Maoist) Southern Zonal Committee, to protest police and paramilitary operations in the forest areas of the trijunction Podahat, Kolhan and Saranda. The operations included Operation Kagaar and Operation Clean, which are said to have resulted in civilian casualties in areas such as Lovad and Lipunga.
Preceding the bandh, five Maoists were taken into police custody in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on July 6, a police official said.
Those arrested were identified as Hemla Pala (35), Hemla Hunga (35), Sodi Deva (25), Nuppo (20) and Kunjam Masa (28), all residents of adjoining Chintalnar police station limits and active as militia members of the Maoist party in Surpanguda area. Maoist cadres were apprehended from Jagargunda police station limits when a joint team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Bastar Fighters and district force was out on an area domination operation.
Anticipating the presence of security personnel near Singavaram, the Maoists, clad in civilian dress, tried to hide and escape, the police official said, adding, two country-made barrel grenade launcher (BGL) shells, one tiffin bomb, seven gelatin rods, nine detonators, explosive powder and other items used in making improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were recovered from the Maoists following their capture by police.
The Ramakrishnapur police also arrested Mohammed Hussein alias Sudhakar alias Ramakanth. A founding member of the Singareni Karmika Samakhya, a frontal organization of the CPI (Maoist), Hussein was produced before the media in Ramakrishnapur police station in Mancherial district. This was after reports throughout the day on the arrest, with relatives saying he was picked up from his residence in Jammikunta in Karimnagar district.
A resident of Padmashaliwada of Jammikunta, Mohammad Hussein worked as a general mazdoor in the KK-2 Singareni coal mine from 1978 to 1981. Attracted to the Maoist  People’s War’s ideology, he joined the party by resigning from his job and worked in different positions. In 2009, he was arrested in Bokaro district of Jharkhand and was in jail till 2013. Cases under section 120, 120(b) r/w 34/IPC, section 10,13,18,18(b) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act were pending against Hussein with Ramakrishnapur police station, Bellampalli ACP A Ravikumar said.
The CPI (Maoist) on July 10th condemned the arrest of Mohammed Hussein. Its Telangana State Committee official spokesperson, Jagan, in a statement released to the media, described Hussein’s arrest illegal, stating, he was leading a normal life after being released from jail 10 years ago.
Alleging that privatization of the Singareni coal blocks was part of the State government’s conspiracy, Jagan said people resisting the move were being  branded as Maoists, and those protesting against the government were being arrested. He appealed to civil rights organizations and the public to condemn the "illegal arrests".
On July 9th a cadre of the CPI (Maoist) was killed in an exchange of fire with security personnel in Chotebethiya police station limits of Kanker district of Chhattisgarh.
The encounter took place in Binagunda forest area when a joint team of security forces comprising personnel from the Border Security Force (BSF) and Bastar Fighters (a unit of the state police), were undertaking a routine search operation in the area.
A controversial move, Operation Kagaar began in January, which is being opposed by the Maoists as a "merciless campaign of tyranny against people." They consider it  as part of the crusade of the current rulers   to "establish a New Hindutva India -- a Hindu-Brahmanical regime which is wiping out the poor peasants and the oppressed indigenous peoples." 
Meanwhile, extensive campaigns have shimmered in many regions of the globe condemning Operation Kagar, especially in Brazil and Finland. Media condemned it in Mexico, Peru and Denmark. The Communist Party of Phillipines called for a month of solidarity protest. The Progressive Democratic Students Union of Bangladesh and the Anti-Imperialist League of Germany and Croatia  also condemned it. The League said in a statement:
“It is known that every reactionary regime faced with guerrilla struggles and rebellions, from the Philippines to Peru, from Turkey to Nepal, from Mexico to Colombia and Zionist Israel, massacres unarmed people and presents them as resistance fighters and guerrillas. Helpless against the guerrilla forces, the massacring states aim to ‘drain the swamp’, that is, to intimidate the people and tear them away from their living spaces in order to prevent the guerrillas from uniting with the people. Now Indian reactionism is once again focused on this target with the Operation Kagaar.”
After the statement and the call of the League to carry out actions against Operation Kagaar, numerous  actions and statements have engulfed  many countries of the world. Partizan has carried out many actions in Turkey and Europe. In front of the Indian Consulate in Frankfurt, the crowd mobilized by Partizan and the Red League chanted continuously “Stop the Massacres in India!”, “Lal Salaam!” 
Meetings held in German and Turkish agreed that the  Indian State had murdered hundreds of people after the Operation Kagaar was launched, calling th People’s War strategy in India is justified and legitimate. On July 12, a protest was carried out by Partizan and Rote Fahne Österreich in front of the Indian Consulate in Vienna. Friends of the Filipino People in Struggle and KOMintern also supported the action.
On July 13, Partizan and the League of Young Revolutionaries held a demonstration in front of the European Council in Strasbourg with the slogans "Long Live International Solidarity", "Long Live the People’s War", "Down with Imperialism, capitalism and All Reactionary forces”.
In Istanbul and Izmir banners wer erected denouncing the repression by the Indian state. Partizan also organized several activities in Europe. On 12th of July, it organized along with Die Rote Fahne, a rally before the  Indian State’s consulate in Vienna, Austria.In Bern, Switzerland, Partizan and AGEB  organized a rally against Operation Kagaar.
In Frankfurt, Partizan organized a rally before the Indian consulate. Roter Bund (read League) supported the mobilization. They carried out a rally which began at 2 pm with the slogan “Let’s support the liberation struggle of the Indian people, let’s protest against the massacre by the Indian state!” Speeches in German and Turkish were held and leaflets in German were distributed.
---
*Freelance journalist

Comments

TRENDING

Aurangzeb’s last will recorded by his Maulvi: Allah shouldn't make anyone emperor

By Mohan Guruswamy  Aurangzeb’s grave is a simple slab open to the sky lying along the roadside at Khuldabad near Aurangabad. I once stopped by to marvel at the tomb of an Emperor of India whose empire was as large as Ashoka the Great's. It was only post 1857 when Victoria's domain exceeded this. The epitaph reads: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast." (The rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave) The modest tomb of Aurangzeb is perhaps the least recognised legacies of the Mughal Emperor who ruled the land for fifty eventful years. He was not a builder having expended his long tenure in war and conquest. Towards the end of his reign and life, he realised the futility of it all. He wrote: "Allah should not make anyone an emperor. The most unfortunate person is he who becomes one." Aurangzeb’s last will was re...

Beyond his riding skill, Karl Umrigar was admired for his radiance, sportsmanship, and affability

By Harsh Thakor*  Karl Umrigar's name remains etched in the annals of Indian horse racing, a testament to a talent tragically cut short. An accident on the racetrack at the tender age of nineteen robbed India of a rider on the cusp of greatness. Had he survived, there's little doubt he would have ascended to international stature, possibly becoming the greatest Indian jockey ever. Even 46 years after his death, his name shines brightly, reminiscent of an inextinguishable star. His cousin, Pesi Shroff, himself blossomed into one of the most celebrated jockeys in Indian horse racing.

PUCL files complaint with SC against Gujarat police, municipal authorities for 'unlawful' demolitions, custodial 'violence'

By A Representative   The People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Justice of India, urging the Supreme Court to initiate suo-moto contempt proceedings against the police and municipal authorities in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The complaint alleges that these officials have engaged in unlawful demolitions and custodial violence, in direct violation of a Supreme Court order issued in November 2024.

How the slogan Jai Bhim gained momentum as movement of popularity and revolution

By Dr Kapilendra Das*  India is an incomprehensible plural country loaded with diversities of religions, castes, cultures, languages, dialects, tribes, societies, costumes, etc. The Indians have good manners/etiquette (decent social conduct, gesture, courtesy, politeness) that build healthy relationships and take them ahead to life. In many parts of India, in many situations, and on formal occasions, it is common for people of India to express and exchange respect, greetings, and salutation for which we people usually use words and phrases like- Namaskar, Namaste, Pranam, Ram Ram, Jai Ram ji, Jai Sriram, Good morning, shubha sakal, Radhe Radhe, Jai Bajarangabali, Jai Gopal, Jai Jai, Supravat, Good night, Shuvaratri, Jai Bhole, Salaam walekam, Walekam salaam, Radhaswami, Namo Buddhaya, Jai Bhim, Hello, and so on. A soft attitude always creates strong relationships. A relationship should not depend only on spoken words. They should rely on understanding the unspoken feeling too. So w...

Haven't done a good deed, inner soul is cursing me as sinner: Aurangzeb's last 'will'

Counterview Desk The Tomb of Aurangzeb, the last of the strong Mughal emperors, located in Khuldabad, Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, has this epitaph inscribed on it: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e maa ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast" (the rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave).

CPM’s evaluation of BJP reflects its political character and its reluctance to take on battle against neo-fascism

By Harsh Thakor*  A controversial debate has emerged in the revolutionary camp regarding the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s categorization of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Many Communists criticize the CPM’s reluctance to label the BJP as a fascist party and India as a fascist state. Various factors must be considered to arrive at an accurate assessment. Understanding the original meaning and historical development of fascism is essential, as well as analyzing how it manifests in the present global and national context.

State Human Rights Commission directs authorities to uphold environmental rights in Vadodara's Vishwamitri River Project

By A Representative  The Gujarat State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) has ordered state and Vadodara municipal authorities to strictly comply with environmental and human rights safeguards during the Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project, stressing that the river’s degradation disproportionately affects marginalized communities and violates citizens’ rights to a healthy environment.  The Commission mandated an immediate halt to ecologically destructive practices, rehabilitation of affected communities, transparent adherence to National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, and public consultations with experts and residents.   The order follows the Concerned Citizens of Vadodara coalition—environmentalists, ecologists, and urban planners—submitting a detailed letter to authorities, amplifying calls for accountability. The group warned that current plans to “re-section” and “desilt” the river contradict the NGT’s 2021 Vishwamitri River Action Plan, which prioritizes floodpla...

How polarization between different ideological trends within the communist movement sharpened in India

By Harsh Thakor*  This article is a rejoinder to A Note on Slogans of “Left Unity,” “Unity of the Communist Revolutionaries” and “Mass Line” by Umair Ahmed, published on the Nazariya blog .

Vadodara citizens urge authorities to adhere to environmental mandates in Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project

By A Representative   A coalition of environmental activists, ecologists, and urban planners in Vadodara has issued an urgent appeal to state and municipal authorities, demanding strict compliance with court-mandated guidelines for the upcoming Vishwamitri River rejuvenation project. Scheduled to commence in March 2025, the initiative aims to mitigate flooding and restore the river, but citizens warn that current plans risk violating National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders and jeopardizing the river’s fragile ecosystem, home to endangered species like crocodiles and Indian Softshell Turtles.  

Implications of deaths of Maoist leaders G. Renuka and Ankeshwarapu Sarayya in Chhattisgarh

By Harsh Thakor*  In the wake of recent security operations in southern Chhattisgarh, two senior Maoist leaders, G. Renuka and Ankeshwarapu Sarayya, were killed. These operations, which took place amidst a historically significant Maoist presence, resulted in the deaths of 31 individuals on March 20th and 16 more three days prior.