The wives who came in from the cold
Their husbands may be in jail or on the run fighting for a cause, but for the wives of Maoists the struggle for survival at home is a daily battle, says Sonia Sarkar
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| Subhashree Panda with Swarupa |
Showing posts with label Sabyasachi Panda. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sabyasachi Panda. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Article : Wives of Maoist Leaders and Cadres
The wives who came in from the cold
Their husbands may be in jail or on the run fighting for a cause, but for the wives of Maoists the struggle for survival at home is a daily battle, says Sonia Sarkar
Monday, March 26, 2012
There’s disunity, admits CPI (Maoist) leader
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| In this file photo, Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda (back to camera) speaks to journalists at a camp in an undisclosed location in Kandhamal district. Photo: Special Arrangement |
Speculation on the prevalence of a lack of unity and coordination among different divisions of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in Odisha, it turns out, is not baseless.
Top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda admitted before newspersons that there was lack of unity among the division that he was heading and divisions that were at work in Malkangiri and Koraput districts in the southern parts of the State.
Mr. Panda, who operates from Kandhamal and Ganjam districts, said his cadres would not indulge in violent activities in the areas under his command till the hostage crisis was over.
Mr. Panda, who holds the position of secretary of the CPI(Maoist)'s State organising committee, lamented that the Maoists operating in the southern region of the State indulged in killing and kidnapping when the negotiation for the release of the two Italian nationals — Claudio Colangelo and Paolo Bosusco — was in progress.
Mr. Panda was speaking to the visiting newspersons while releasing Mr. Colangelo on Sunday.
According to intelligence sources, there were at least five divisions of the outlawed party working in different regions of the State.
This was one of the main hurdles facing the Naveen Patnaik government since the abduction of Jhina Hikaka, legislator of the ruling Biju Janata Dal, from Laxmipur early on Saturday.
After negotiations between three government officials and two interlocutors was abruptly stopped on Saturday, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asked the Maoists to name their new mediators to hold talks with the State government for the release of the abducted Italians and the MLA. However, there was no communication from any group of the Maoist kidnappers till Sunday night. It was also not clear whether the State government would resume the talks with the mediators, B.D. Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty.
The mediators had suggested suspension of the dialogue process, unhappy with both the Maoists and the government.
Meanwhile, the wife of the abducted legislator reiterated her appeal to the Maoists to release her husband safely.
On the other hand, agitating legislators of the Opposition Congress continued their dharna on the floor of the Assembly demanding imposition of President's rule in the State in view of the deteriorating law and order situation.
The legislators had stayed back in the House on Saturday when the proceedings were adjourned till Monday following disruption of the proceedings by the Opposition members, who demanded the resignation of Mr. Patnaik.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3223653.ece
The killing of top Maoist leader Kishenji and arrest of top cadres seems to have weakened the extremist outfit's central leadership, taking a toll on the group's operational planning with the Orissa double kidnap seen as a major tactical blunder.
The kidnap of BJD tribal MLA Jhina Hikaka at a time when Maoists were already holding two Italians captive might have diminished Odisha area chief Sabyasachi Panda's negotiating position forcing him to release one of the Italians on Sunday.
The MLA's abduction and killing of a police official compromised Panda who had to condemn the acts as a violation of the ceasefire agreed to by the state CPI ML committee. His options were further constrained by negotiators B D Sharma and Dandapani Mohanty calling off their efforts.
The conflicting actions of Kandhamal-based cadres, who abducted the Italians, and the Daya group - suspected to be behind the kidnap of Hikaka - is seen as evidence of slackening of the high command's authority.
Official sources said Kishenji's death and arrest of leaders like Kobad Gandhy has created a vacuum at the top and led to loss of control over area committees, with factional bosses working to their own agendas. Over the past year, several key state level leaders have been apprehended in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Bihar.
Local acts of intimidation at this time of the year are linked to efforts to discourage people from accessing Odisha's deeply forested areas where ultras are involved in collection of ganja, a money-spinner for the extremists. But the abduction of Hikaka seems to have been an overkill.
Political sources said the kidnap of Hikaka, a well-regarded tribal leader, has added to the pressure on Panda who is very keen to not only ensure release of his wife Subhashree from jail, but to also gain a safe passage for himself as security forces are believed to be snapping at his heels.
"Leaders like Hikaka are working to bring tribals into the mainstream. The soft approach has worked and now Maoist-affected districts are down to three from 22 till some time ago," said BJD MP Bhartruhari Mahtab.
The abduction of Hikaka is seen to be the work of Maoists from Andhra Pradesh. The faction seems to have overplayed its hand as Hikaka, a law graduate, is popular and his kidnapping might cost Maoists considerable sympathy.
In Kandhamal as well as in Makangiri and Koraput districts, the Maoists have come under increasing pressure in the wake of states like Odisha, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar coordinating their actions.
Source :
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maoists-Orissa-double-kidnap-seen-as-tactical-blunder/articleshow/12407803.cms
Friday, November 25, 2011
Kishenji traced through Sabyasachi Panda’s Laptop
Panda’s laptop helped securitymen lay trap for Kishenji
Nov 25, 2011
A laptop confiscated recently from a top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda’s hideout in Odisha is believed to have helped the security forces carry anti-Maoist operation against Mallojula Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji. According to sources, the laptop was analysed by top analysts in Delhi to locate the whereabouts of the no 3 leader in the Maoist hierarchy.
According to sources, security forces including the CRPF had surrounded Kishenji and a few other top leaders in the forests of West Bengal on Wednesday itself. However, Kishenji managed to give police the slip only to land in the middle of yet another ambush. An encounter for half an hour resulted in his killing.
Panda’s laptop is believed to have provided several important clues about the whereabouts of other leaders including another politburo member Akkiraju Ramakrishna alias RK. According to soruces, RK was earlier spotted in the Andhra-Orissa border. However, a miscommunication among the security forces in cornering him allowed him to escape the police net recently. Though unconfirmed, sources said the next target would be RK since his location has almost been confirmed.
However, the rights groups are crying foul at Kishenji’s encounter. They believe like in the case of ‘encountered’ top leader Azad, Kishenji too was captured somewhere else and brought to Junglemahal only to be shot from close range. According to sources among the sympathizers, Kishenji has a security cover of about 40 people armed with advanced weaponry and there is no way he alone getting killed. The other version that is pointing at the cause of action is the infight within the Maoist party.
Though the staunch supporters of Maoists rule out any infighting, sources said that the local leaders particularly the natives of the eastern region in the party have always been opposing the way Kishenji operated and did not like a Telugu climbing up the ladder in the hierarchy. “Undoubtedly there is an information leak from within the party,” a source said.
Source : DNA http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_pandas-laptop-helped-securitymen-lay-trap-for-kishenji_1616995
Related Post List of Social Workers and Political Activists arrested, killed online.
Top Maoist's laptop in police custodyNov 25, 2011
A laptop confiscated recently from a top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda’s hideout in Odisha is believed to have helped the security forces carry anti-Maoist operation against Mallojula Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji. According to sources, the laptop was analysed by top analysts in Delhi to locate the whereabouts of the no 3 leader in the Maoist hierarchy.
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| Kishenji |
However, the rights groups are crying foul at Kishenji’s encounter. They believe like in the case of ‘encountered’ top leader Azad, Kishenji too was captured somewhere else and brought to Junglemahal only to be shot from close range. According to sources among the sympathizers, Kishenji has a security cover of about 40 people armed with advanced weaponry and there is no way he alone getting killed. The other version that is pointing at the cause of action is the infight within the Maoist party.
Though the staunch supporters of Maoists rule out any infighting, sources said that the local leaders particularly the natives of the eastern region in the party have always been opposing the way Kishenji operated and did not like a Telugu climbing up the ladder in the hierarchy. “Undoubtedly there is an information leak from within the party,” a source said.
Source : DNA http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_pandas-laptop-helped-securitymen-lay-trap-for-kishenji_1616995
Related Post List of Social Workers and Political Activists arrested, killed online.
Nov 20, 2011
In what could be termed as the most precious haul so far made during anti-Maoist operations, the police have seized a laptop computer used by top Maoist Sabyasachi Panda alias Sunil.
Panda's laptop was recovered during a joint operation by the Odisha Police and the CRPF at Kerubadi jungle of Kandhamal district about a month ago. Though all the inmates, about 150 including Panda, of a Maoist camp could manage to escape from the place, the police could seize a number of items used by the Maoists in the dense forests. One of the seized items was the laptop; a senior official said, adding that after proper verification by experts, it was revealed that the laptop was being used by Panda, who continues to regulate all the Maoist activities in the State.
Panda's laptop was sent to New Delhi, where it was decoded and read.
“We have found a lot of information like people in link with the Maoists, their future plans, their communication with their central committee members and the amount of funds generated by the Maoists in Odisha,” sources said. The laptop has many secret documents, which are in possession of the CRPF headquarters in New Delhi.
The information received from it is likely to be passed over to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Panda is one of the three top Maoists against whom the State Government is planning to announce a cash reward of `20 lakh. Panda, a young, sworn Maoist, has given slip to the police several times. The great escape from the Kerubadi jungle is dubbed as the latest bid to fool the security personnel.
“Information received from Panda’s laptop will certainly help as the police can keep vigil on the people whose names figure in the computer. The persons whose names are there do not also know whether their names exist in the laptop,” official sources added.
Source : Pioneer : http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/21737-top-maoists-laptop-in-police-custody.html
Friday, January 16, 2009
Confusion deepens in Orissa
While it is still early and difficult to understand what is happening in Orissa
below are the news articles regarding the issues at stake.
We can't believe everything that appears in the media but we can infer
that it is an indication of some confusion in Orissa.
Dec 30th , 2008
Kandhamal killings split Orissa Maoists on religious lines
Berhampur (Orissa) (IANS): The killing of a Hindu leader and his associates that triggered attacks on Christians in Orissa have split the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) on religious lines for the first time, with many Hindu members breaking away to form a rival group.
The unexpected development, which have taken many by surprise, came to light when the breakaway faction put up posters threatening to target Christian members of the CPI-Maoist in the state.
The new group calls itself "IDGA-Maoist", which some posters say is the acronym for "Idealize of Democrat Garila (Guerrilla) Army (Maoist)".
According to informed sources, the new group's formal inauguration will take place Jan 3 at an undisclosed location under the leadership of a guerrilla identified only as M2.
The origin of the split is the Aug 23 gunning down of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swamy Laxmanananda Saraswati and four associates at Jallespata in tribal-dominated Kandhamal district.
It sparked off an orgy of violence against Christians, whom the VHP blamed for Saraswati's killing. About 40 people, mostly poor Christians in rural areas, were killed.
While the police blamed the Maoists for the killings, the VHP insisted that Christians were responsible. The CPI-Maoist claimed responsibility for the murder, saying Saraswati was creating a sectarian divide in the impoverished region.
The breakaway IDGA's posters have denounced the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), the military wing of the CPI-Maoist, and its leader Sabyasachi Panda for the VHP leader's death.
A Maoist sympathiser close to the new faction told IANS that the main reason behind the break-up was the Kandhamal violence, for which he blamed Panda.
"Maoists don't have any religion. Their religion is to safeguard the vulnerable people and fight exploitation and oppression. But those under Panda are acting like a mafia," he said, requesting anonymity.
People familiar with the Maoist movement in the state believe that the split will result in escalation of violence.
Sixteen of Orissa's 30 districts are considered Maoist- dominated. Six southwestern districts - Malkangiri, Koraput, Raygada, Kandhamal, Nayagarh and Gajapati - are the worst hit.
The existing Maoist group active in southern Orissa is known as the Bansadhara Divisional Committee. This is expected to face the wrath of the splitters.
Nihar Nayak, an expert on Maoists at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi, told IANS that if a split has indeed taken place on religious lines, it would mark a first in India's Left history.
"Since the Maoist movement began in India, they have never supported a specific religion or caste or community," he said.
Nayak added that the objective of the splinter group would be "to protect Hindus from Maoist attacks and retaliate by killing Christian leaders" in the state.
In its posters, the new group has threatened to kill one Christian on the 23rd of every month -- to avenge Saraswati's murder Aug 23.
The new group's area of influence includes three regions: southcentral Orissa, Ghumsar division in southern Orissa and Bansadhara division which shares a border with Andhra Pradesh.
Some police officials here fear the law and order situation in the region might worsen if the new group starts revenge killing, inviting retaliation.
"It is certain that violence will escalate and this split is going to be a major headache for the already burdened police force," a senior officer told IANS requesting anonymity.
Deputy Inspector General of Police P. Koche told IANS: "I don't have any information regarding this new Maoist group."
Sanjeeb Panda, another deputy inspector general of police, added: "We don't have any official information regarding the split. But I can't rule out that there has been a split among the Maoists."
Some days later they denied it calling a ploy of hindu nationalists
http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=3581
And today we have this
16th Jan 2009
Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda expelled from CPI(Maoist)
Breaking News! In a significant development, Orissa's "most wanted" Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda alias Sunil was expelled from the CPI (Maoist) for anti-party activities. The CPI (Maoist) Central Committee has come up with a press release, which said Sabyasachi was expelled for illegal activities and bringing disrepute to the Maoist Organization.
below are the news articles regarding the issues at stake.
We can't believe everything that appears in the media but we can infer
that it is an indication of some confusion in Orissa.
Dec 30th , 2008
Kandhamal killings split Orissa Maoists on religious lines
Berhampur (Orissa) (IANS): The killing of a Hindu leader and his associates that triggered attacks on Christians in Orissa have split the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) on religious lines for the first time, with many Hindu members breaking away to form a rival group.
The unexpected development, which have taken many by surprise, came to light when the breakaway faction put up posters threatening to target Christian members of the CPI-Maoist in the state.
The new group calls itself "IDGA-Maoist", which some posters say is the acronym for "Idealize of Democrat Garila (Guerrilla) Army (Maoist)".
According to informed sources, the new group's formal inauguration will take place Jan 3 at an undisclosed location under the leadership of a guerrilla identified only as M2.
The origin of the split is the Aug 23 gunning down of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Swamy Laxmanananda Saraswati and four associates at Jallespata in tribal-dominated Kandhamal district.
It sparked off an orgy of violence against Christians, whom the VHP blamed for Saraswati's killing. About 40 people, mostly poor Christians in rural areas, were killed.
While the police blamed the Maoists for the killings, the VHP insisted that Christians were responsible. The CPI-Maoist claimed responsibility for the murder, saying Saraswati was creating a sectarian divide in the impoverished region.
The breakaway IDGA's posters have denounced the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), the military wing of the CPI-Maoist, and its leader Sabyasachi Panda for the VHP leader's death.
A Maoist sympathiser close to the new faction told IANS that the main reason behind the break-up was the Kandhamal violence, for which he blamed Panda.
"Maoists don't have any religion. Their religion is to safeguard the vulnerable people and fight exploitation and oppression. But those under Panda are acting like a mafia," he said, requesting anonymity.
People familiar with the Maoist movement in the state believe that the split will result in escalation of violence.
Sixteen of Orissa's 30 districts are considered Maoist- dominated. Six southwestern districts - Malkangiri, Koraput, Raygada, Kandhamal, Nayagarh and Gajapati - are the worst hit.
The existing Maoist group active in southern Orissa is known as the Bansadhara Divisional Committee. This is expected to face the wrath of the splitters.
Nihar Nayak, an expert on Maoists at the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses in New Delhi, told IANS that if a split has indeed taken place on religious lines, it would mark a first in India's Left history.
"Since the Maoist movement began in India, they have never supported a specific religion or caste or community," he said.
Nayak added that the objective of the splinter group would be "to protect Hindus from Maoist attacks and retaliate by killing Christian leaders" in the state.
In its posters, the new group has threatened to kill one Christian on the 23rd of every month -- to avenge Saraswati's murder Aug 23.
The new group's area of influence includes three regions: southcentral Orissa, Ghumsar division in southern Orissa and Bansadhara division which shares a border with Andhra Pradesh.
Some police officials here fear the law and order situation in the region might worsen if the new group starts revenge killing, inviting retaliation.
"It is certain that violence will escalate and this split is going to be a major headache for the already burdened police force," a senior officer told IANS requesting anonymity.
Deputy Inspector General of Police P. Koche told IANS: "I don't have any information regarding this new Maoist group."
Sanjeeb Panda, another deputy inspector general of police, added: "We don't have any official information regarding the split. But I can't rule out that there has been a split among the Maoists."
Some days later they denied it calling a ploy of hindu nationalists
http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/news/?NewsID=3581
And today we have this
16th Jan 2009
Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda expelled from CPI(Maoist)
Breaking News! In a significant development, Orissa's "most wanted" Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda alias Sunil was expelled from the CPI (Maoist) for anti-party activities. The CPI (Maoist) Central Committee has come up with a press release, which said Sabyasachi was expelled for illegal activities and bringing disrepute to the Maoist Organization.Sabysachi was accused of spreading misinformation, by posing as the General Secretary of CPI (Maoist) Central Committee and a member of Central Military Committee of CPI (Maoist). He was also accused of adopting a luxurious lifestyle by giving up the original Maoist ideology. The CPI (Maoist) alleged that Sabyasachi Panda collected a huge amount of money using his Maoist clout and distributed it among his family and relatives.
The press release termed Sabyasachi Panda as a liar and power-hungry person and has demanded that he must return all money he has collected so far or else face severe punishment.
The CPI (Maoist) has condemned the role of Sabyasachi Panda in the killing of Swami Laxamanananda Saraswati in Kandhamal district on August 23 and held him responsible for the communal riots that followed aftermath Swamiji's killing. The committee blamed Sabyasachi Panda's personal ego for the precarious problem in Kandhamal.
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