Maoists campaign against development in West Bengal

Midnapore (West Bengal), Sep 22 (ANI): In an endeavor to retain their hold in the interior areas of West Bengal, Maoists have issued a stern warning to the villagers asking them not to participate in developmental activities.

The ultras have stuck posters in the villages of West Bengal's Midnpore District, threatening people not to send their children to schools and to abstain from joining police jobs.

Fearing that development will loosen their hold in interior areas, the Maoists are campaigning against the government activities.

The locals here complained that Maoist activities such as killings and abductions have increased considerably in the area.

A legislator from Salboni town, Srikanta Mahato, said though the rebels are making attempts to create threat among the locals, but no such kind of warnings can stop people from moving towards development.

"I don't think that threat can move mankind from its position and we have left everything on the people and we understand that threat will not work with them," said Mahato.

In order to strengthen their clout over poor villagers by instilling a deep sense of fear, Maoist outfits operating in this region have sabotaged most development projects, initiated by the Centre and West Bengal Government many times in the past.

Extremists oppose all development activities such as the construction of roads, schools, hospitals and drinking water facilities in areas under their hold. Consequently, contractors are killed, schools are burnt, electric poles are destroyed and developmental activities are forcefully halted.

Maoists fear that if development reaches the interior regions of the country, then their support base would diminish.

Mahato further said that he has recommended the state government to set up more police camps in the area to avoid violence.

"We know it very well that mankind will not tolerate any kind of anti-community activity," he added.

Emphasising that Left Wing Extremism (LWE) is a major challenge for security and sovereignty for the country than terrorism, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram yesterday said the Centre was open to talks with Maoists provided they suspend violence.

Chidambaram highlighted the fact that Maoists have killed 297 civilians and 109 security personnel in 2011, which is more than the death toll in militancy and insurgency across country. (ANI)