Ranchi, Sept. 21: The CPI(Maoist) today kicked off a week-long campaign to mark its foundation day, urging people through posters to support them and denouncing the government.
Some of these posters, which appeared at prominent points in remote areas of Palamau district, ask the commoners to strengthen the hands of "their united front with the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army", the military wing of CPI(Maoist). The extremist group also lambasted the government's surrender policy and advocated overthrowing the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, where BJP president Amit Shah and Union home minister Rajnath Singh play important roles.
The posters further say that splinter groups like TPC, PLFI, JJMP and JPC were armed criminal gangs enjoying police patronage and they needed to be taught lesson. The Maoists vowed to eliminate special police officers in the villages.
A Maoist banner was also found at Rampur Panchayat Bhavan in Chainpur area of Gumla district.
Following recovering of the posters, search operations have been intensified. The police headquarters have sounded a high alert, asking superintendents of police (SPs) across the state to take extra precautions to avert any major untoward incident.
"Presence of these posters does not confirm presence of armed Maoist squads in the area. Such posters are usually pasted by their supporters at secluded places late at night. Nonetheless, we are vigilant. Our search operations are in full swing. Everything is under control," said Palamau range DIG Vipul Shukla.
During one such search operation in Latehar district, police arrested Sangharsh Jan Mukti Morcha area commander Tejlal Singh, alias Teju Singh, alias Ajay Singh, from Chandwa area in the small hours today. An automatic pistol, cartridges and a mobile phone were found on him.
According to Latehar SP Anoop Birtharay, Sangharsh Jan Mukti Morcha was a banned ultra-left rebel outfit and Tejlal was an accused in three important cases of murder, extortion, gang war and abduction registered at Chandwa police station since 2003.
He had been heading his organisation in the area after Sangharsh Jan Mukti Morcha supremo Diwali Ganjhu was killed in an encounter with police and his close aide Sandip Kaila was arrested a few months ago.
On the Maoists' foundation day campaign, Birtharay said that erstwhile Maoist Communist Centre and People's War Group had merged in Saranda forests on this day 13 years ago to become CPI(Maoist). Since then, the outfit had been observing the foundation week.
"It is one of their routine exercises every year. In remote areas, they hold public meetings and kangaroo courts, cause damages to public property and target police," the Latehar SP added.
Dumka SP Prabhat Kumar said that special attention was being given to Shikaripara, Gopikandar, Kathikund and Ramgarh, where rebel movements were often reported. This apart, vehicle checks, surveillance and other security measures have been beefed up.
"All SPs have been directed to follow the guidelines issued by police headquarters. No Maoist poster has been found in my domain," said Dumka range DIG Akhilesh Jha.
