Naxals call for economic blockade

While the rebels are expected to block the movement of minerals by rail and road in their areas of influence in the six states, in Gadchiroli Maharashtra, bordering Madhya Pradesh and Andhra, the Naxalites have already embarked on an arson drive setting afire five trucks in one night and blocking several roads.

One of the pamphlets in the Naxal-infested Gumla district in Jharkhand reads, 8216;8216;Most of these states had signed MoUs to set up industrial units8230; the land of the poor will be acquired and minerals exploited to feed these plants. Our agitation is a protest against the imminent displacement of the poor and loot of minerals.8217;8217;

Taking no chances, the police are chalking out strategy to deal with the unprecedented agitation. DGP V D Ram said, 8216;8216;We are gearing up to effectively deal with them and maintain law and order.8221;

In Jharkhand, the issue of mineral exploitation and displacement of locals, as part of the implementation of the 44 MoUs signed with private companies in the past five years, is a touchy issue. The CPI, CPIML, CPIM, JMM and several members of the Catholic and Protestant Church have opposed implementation of the MoUs.

In Gadchiroli, Naxalites burnt two trucks on the intervening night of May 23 and 24 on the Dhanora-Hattitola road and the Murumgaon-Sawargaon road each. They also set fire to a truck carrying a marriage party on the Malewada-Yerkad road after asking the members of the party to get down, said Gadchiroli police sources.

The rebels blocked at least five other roads by putting trees across them. Chandrapur SP Shirish Jain told The Indian Express that economic blockade was an entirely new thing to have been started by the Naxalites. 8216;8216;We haven8217;t heard of anything of this kind before.8217;8217;