Gujarat ATS arrests three Jhakhand origin Maoists from Mahisagar and Tapi

Surat: Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested three Maoists suspects including a woman from Tapi and Mahisagar for allegedly propagating far-left “Patalgadhi movement” and booked them for conspiracy, waging war against nation, sedition and promoting enmity between two groups (Sections 121 A, 124 A, 153 A and 120 B of IPC).

The arrested naxals have been identified as Babita Kachhap(arrested from Mahisagar), Somu and his brother Birsa Oreya, all originally from Maoism-hit state Jharkhand.

The trio are wanted in Jharkhand for serious offences like murder and kidnapping.

ATS officials say they have seized laptops and literature on banned CPI (Maoist) from suspects’ possession.

It is learnt that the trio were inciting members of Satipati community to violence against the state.

Pathalgadi is a violent extremist movement of far-left Maoists going on in the name of demanding self-rule by local gram panchayats by declaring villages as sovereign territory and restricting “outsiders”. The three arrested were part of this movement.

More details:

This section of Maoists propagate that it is prohibited for “outsiders” are banned from tribal areas. They are banned to move independently in tribal areas. They are banned to stay, settle, roam around and travel in tribal areas. “Outsiders” can not do business, profession, job in tribal areas. Any general law passed by the parliament or the assembly is not applicable to tribal areas.

A phone number of accused was traced and it was found in surveillance that a conspiracy was being made against the State. Accused Samu in one of phone calls said, only tribals will live in India and not anyone else. The fight has kicked off in 2020 and it is in action in the villages. Eventually Police and CRPF camps also will be rooted out. Ration cards, Aadhar cards will be surrendered. Those opposing will be finished. Villages will believe in our customs. They will join our party. This all will lead us to our target. We will be able to do counter attack then. None would be able to raise voice against us.

In one call, a person asks about weapon and in response he is told by accused that, first one has to prove self, then only weapons will be handed over.

In another call, it is told that Police has rifle and we also will have rifle. They will have their own administration, we will have ours.

In another call, there’s a talk that doctors must not be allowed to enter the villages. Health camps against Coronavirus must be opposed.

Accused Babita Kachhap would mislead villager by misinterpreting the mechanism of gram panchayats.

Some important details have been found from a laptop recovered from the accused. It mentions call for boycott of elections. Violent has been justified in literature recovered from accused. Money transactions are also traced. There’s a mention of collection of fund from the people.

DeshGujarat