Gag on sympathisers for pro-Naxal meet on Wednesday

BHUBANESWAR: A day before the proposed meeting of the Naxalite sympathisers in the City, the State Government issued a strong warning that anyone, connected with the banned outfits, seen delivering speeches at the meeting site would be arrested.

Talking to media persons here on Tuesday, Home Secretary T K Mishra said the State Government is keeping a watch on the activities of the sympathisers and ready to take action against them if they instigate the people.

Dandapani Mohanty, member of the Salwa Judum Action Council, which has planned the meeting, approached the State Human Rights Commission on Tuesday protesting the detention of Pramod Parida by police. Parida was picked by the police on Monday while distributing pro-council literature at College Square in Cuttack.

Mohanty demanded that the detention of Parida be investigated by the Commission. Apprehending sabotage of the council’s meetings in Bhubaneswar and Berhampur by the State Government, Mohanty urged the Commission to restrain the State Government. He claimed that the council has no links with the CPM (Maoist) and six other outlawed organisations.

Responding to a call given by CPI (Maoist)’s Bashadara Divisional Committee, a group under the banner of Salwa Judum Affected People’s Action Council has decided to mobilise support for the Naxalites and oppose the Salwa Judum.

This is for the first time that any group, sympathising with Left wing ultras, is planning meetings both in Bhubaneswar and Berhampur. As part of its campaign, the symapthisers have called upon ‘democratic’ forces to join hands to oppose Salwa Judum in Chhattisgarh and similar movements in the State.