RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Nov.15: A day after Jharkhand police made the arrest of senior Maoist leader Prashant Bose, 75, and his wife Sheela Marandi and four other cadres official organising a press conference at Jharkhand Armed Police premises at Doranda in the Jharkhand capital, Maoists have started marking their protest against the arrest.
The left-wing extremists started a five-day “Pratirodh Diwas” from today and announced Bharat Bandh on November 20 to protest against the arrest.
The intention of the protest is to mount pressure on the government to give political prisoner status and proper medical facilities to the aging political bureau member of CPI (Maoist) in jail however the Maoist organisation has raised a demand for the unconditional release of their leader.
Another intention, an expert said, behind the protest is also to realign Maoists cadres and sympathisers by bringing them in mission mode. Maoists feel that observing five days of protest and one day of Bharat Bandh will help realign different ranks and files of Maoists and their sympathisers.
For Maoists, according to an expert, the requirement of realignment of forces was required as the Maoist movement is also passing through a transition phase during which disciplinary actions are being taken against dishonest and non-committed cadres and new honest and committed cadres are being made responsible.
Another expert feels that the call for a bandh is perfunctory at best as the arrest of an ailing leader will hardly affect the strength of the organisation. Rather, the expert said, the arrest of Bose with his wife and four other cadres will help give the elderly leader a better life in jail equipped with all medical facilities.
“Maoists had to put many efforts to keep the ailing political bureau member safely after the latter became unable to walk properly. They had made special arrangements for their leader’s bed in caves. They had also deputed many men behind him to take his health care in the forest besides saving him from police and police sources as he carried an amount of Rs one crore on his head. With this arrest, the organisation will not have to do all these additional efforts. Above all, the arrest suggests there is also a loophole in the organisation due to which information regarding movement of the leader reached the police,” the expert shared his view.
A police official, who has worked in many Maoist-affected areas supported the comments saying once a person becomes inactive people stop listening to him whether he be a retired DGP or a retired Maoist. “Active ASI matters more than a retired DGP. I do not think the situation is different for Maoist organisations,” he said sharing his practical experience.
Another expert of Maoist subjects, however, said: “Bose was a motivating force in the organisation. Though he had become physically weak, his presence used to make a difference in the organisation and his arrest is definitely a big loss for the Maoist movement.”
Maoist top gun Prashant Bose having several aliases including Kishan Da with his wife Sheela Marandi and four other Maoists including Birenda Hansda, Raju Tudu, Krishna Bahangda and Gurucharan Bodra was arrested on November 12.
Political bureau member of the CPI (Maoist) Bose, carrying Rs one crore cash award on his head, was on his way to Kolhan from Parasnath Hills to participate in a co-ordination committee meeting at Saranda in a SUV when his vehicle was intercepted and he was arrested.
The arrest took place near Giddibera Toll Plaza under Kandra police station of Saraikela district. For the Jharkhand police, it is a big achievement as earlier no Maoist leader of this stature was arrested.
As many as 50 cases are registered against Bose at Ranchi, Khunti, Gumla, Chaibasa, Saraikela, Jamshedpur, Hazaribagh, Bokaro and Chakradharpur.
Announcing the arrest, Jharkhand DGP Niraj Sinha claimed it was a big achievement for the state police saying it will weaken the Maoist activities in the state.
