India: the People’s War advance in Jharkhand and Odisha

Featured image: excavator torched in the district of Palamu, Jharkhand. Source: The Hindu.

There are many news of actions carried out during this week against the Indian State. The actions have been carried out in the States of Jharkhand and Odisha and took place in the context of the ongoing People’s War in India led by the Communist Party of India (Maoist) [CPI (Maoist)]. We have previously reported on that.

The first actions have been carried out in Jharkhand, where two police informants have been eliminated. The first of them was eliminated on the night of Saturday 19^th of August in West Singhbhum district. The police has pointed out that a strong anti-Maoist operation is being carry out in the area, but the guerrillas have a strategic advantage due to their strong mobility between three districts: Singhbhum West, Seraikela-Kharsawan and Khunti, being easier to ambush the Indian State. Also they point out that in the last ten days more State agents have died than in the last ten months. On the night of Monday 21^st of August, another informant was eliminated in the same district.

Also Also in Jharkhand two attacks against large companies exploiting the region have been carried out: one of the attacks occurred on Monday 21^st of August, when a group of Maoists attacked the coal mines of the state-owned Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC). Five security guards were injured in the attack and a weighbridge was torched. The second attack was carried out on Wednesday 23^rd of August in the Palamu district, at least six vehicles have been burned, including excavators and several trucks. Several security guards were also injured.

Odisha is another State where there is a strong Maoist presence and several actions have taken place this week. The first of these was on Tuesday 22^nd of August when the guerrillas put up several posters in the Kandhamal district. The media pointed out that operations against the Maoists have been intensified. But the truth is that the actions of the Maoists continue being carried out, as happens in Jharkhand.

Another attack was carried out in Odisha on Thursday 24^th of August, this time in the Nuapada district against large construction companies, with the result of one excavator torched and a building receiving large damage due to explosives. The guerrillas also put up eight banners and several pamphlets, denouncing the anti-people and pro-industry policies of the Indian government and the governments of Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Additionally, the CPI (Maoist) has denied the death of two members of its Central Committee, Malla Raji Reddy (Sangram) and Katta Ramchandra Reddy. The CPI (Maoist) stated that the news of Friday 18^th of August about the death of these Maoist leaders were false, and that it is part of the psychological warfare strategy carried out by the Indian State against the guerrillas.