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AGNI Vs PANI in Maoist-affected Bastar: has Salwa Judum returned?

Rajkumar Soni | Updated on: 10 February 2017, 1:48 IST
QUICK PILL
  • Why and how did an organisation like AGNI come into being?
  • What is PANI?
  • What do the people have to say about this?

The human rights issue in Bastar reverberated in power corridors of Delhi on Sunday. Bastar remained closed on a bandh call by the Sarva Adivasi Samaj against alleged atrocities on Adivasis, social activists, and journalists.

Jagdalpur SP RN Das took the battle against 'pro-Maoist' groups to his Facebook page.

"Delhi main kuch log Bastar ke bhagya se chand ko choona chah rahe hain, ve danda bhi bhool gaye. Photo dekha, jaise naxaliyon ke paltu kutte, jai ho! Na rahega baans na bajegi bansuri."

(Some people want to touch moon riding on the luck of Bastar. They seem to have forgotten the stick. They looked like pet dogs of Naxalites in the photographs. Without the Bamboo, the flute can never be played.)"

Another one was titled - "Delhi mein Maovadi samarthak interview mein mast hain, magar Bastar Police Maovadiyon ke unmoolan me vyast hai."

(While Maoist supporters are busy giving interviews in Delhi, Bastar Police is eradicating Maoists from the Bastar.)

Picking sides

The posts accused Maoists and their 'supporters' of "stooping to any level to obstruct the path of development and the anti-Naxal mission of the police".

Hours after this message, a group called AGNI (Action Group For National Integrity) came into being in Bastar with a vow to struggle against the Maoists.

The reply came in the form of PANI (People's Action For National Integration).

The former activists of Salwa Judum and Samajik Ekta Manch guide AGNI while PANI is led by Himanshu Kumar, a social activist who works for the rights of the tribals.

Bad name for Bastar

Anand Mohan, Convenor, AGNI, believes the "so-called social activists" have maligned the name of Bastar.

"Truth comes out in local media to some extent, but national and international media portray a horrific image of Bastar," he said.

Naming activists, businessmen and intellectuals associated with his group, Mohan claimed AGNI would reach all places where Maoism is present.

Also Read: Bastar cop: Samajik Ekta Manch is our version of guerrilla warfare

"Samajik Ekta Manch was restricted only to Bastar. We would knock at every place where Naxalism is present. We will take help from all democratic forces, including IG Shivram Kalluri," Mohan said.

Also Read: IG Kalluri's reign of terror: there's hardly a place left for truth in Bastar

Himanshu Kumar terms AGNI as 'Salwa Judum Part-III'.

"Bastar Police has given criminal elements a chance to target intellectuals, social workers, lawyers and journalists fighting for democracy in Bastar," Kumar said.

Kumar pointed out that Samajik Ekta Manch was dissolved after Professor Nandini Sundar had moved a petition against its activities.

According to Kumar, "It was almost clear since the time of Manch's dissolution that another such organisation would be formed to wage anti-Naxal war on a different plane. AGNI is the new 'pocket version' of Salwa Judum."

Lab for socio-political experiments

There have been many experiments to free Bastar from Maoists insurgents. None has succeeded so far.

Before Salwa Judum, it was 'Halla Bol', a programme led by senior police officer Dinesh Jugran. It used music and theatre to reach every village of Bastar.

'Halla Bol' exhorted villagers to support the police and strengthen themselves against plundering Maoists.

The Maoists countered this with their own 'cultural groups' roaming around far-flung villages spreading propaganda against the state and police. They asked people who was robbing the honour of village girls? Who takes away their hens, goats and paddy crop?

Salwa Judum was born in 2005, five years after 'Halla Bol' was closed down. Congress leader Mahendra Karma led this anti-Naxal campaign with government's backing.

Salwa Judum was initially touted as a spontaneous reaction to the excesses of the Maoists. But, it wasn't long before the truth was out.

It led to a steep rise in violence in the region. Around 644 villages were evacuated forcing over 50,000 Adivasis to leave their homes for government tents.

The policy of arming locals against Maoists was abandoned only after a rebuke from the apex court.

Nevertheless, many organisations, on a lesser scale, keep popping up at regular intervals - Danteshwari Vikas Samiti, Bastar Vikas Samiti, Adivasi Mahila Manch, Samajik Ekta Manch were a few of them.

The controversy

AGNI stepped into controversy right at its inception due to the history of its leaders, most of whom are former members of Salwa Judum or Samajik Ekta Manch. Samajik Ekta Manch was no less a stranger to disputes as other AGNI predecessors.

It also began with a controversy surrounding the marriage of notorious Maoist Lakshman and Kosi where IG Kalluri was seen among the guests, garlanded with currency notes. Questions were raised over the financier of such a lavish affair.

Manch's activities purportedly forced Jagdalpur Legal Aid activists Shalini Gera, Isha Khandelwal and social worker Bela Bhatia to leave Bastar. Samajik Ekta Manch also faced allegations after a chemical AL was thrown on social activist & AAP leader Soni Sori .

Also Read: 'I will not leave Bastar': activist Bela Bhatia in an open letter

Here are three different reactions to AGNI -

Reaction -1

"Bastar Police has raised about two dozen organisations like Samajik Ekta Manch. I had stated at the time of dissolution of Samajik Ekta Manch that police would come up with new such outfits. AGNI has surfaced to encourage the unconstitutional deeds of the government."

- Isha Khandelwal, Member, Jagdalpur Legal Aid

Reaction-2

"Bastar Police does not want to take Maoists head on. It makes Adivasis fight among themselves. We all want an end to Naxalism, but poor villagers and Adivasis should not be made pawns in this battle. AGNI is a part of Salwa Judum. The damage caused by Salwa Judum is no secret."

- Bhupesh Baghel, State President, Congress

Reaction -3

"It is courageous to form an organisation against Maoists. We welcome all voices against this menace. This is a good sign"

- Dr Raman Singh, Chief Minister of Chattisgarh

Also Read: Violence on the rise again in Bastar. Talks of a 'Mission 2016' are rife

Also Read: 'Quit journalism or leave this place': the choice before reporters in Bastar

Also Read: Endless cycle in Bastar: of 'fake' encounters and alleged rape

First published: 18 July 2016, 1:03 IST
 
Rajkumar Soni @catchnews

The author is bureau chief at Patrika, Chhattisgarh.