'Stop using force, we’ll talk'

BERHAMPUR: The outlawed CPI (Maoist) has dubbed invitation of the Orissa Government for a dialogue as a political stunt and exhorted the latter to stop using force and violent means.

"Only then will the Maoists consider the proposal," it said. A fortnight after the Nayagarh mayhem, the State organisational committee of CPI (Maoist) came out openly claiming responsibility for the loot of the armouries in order to arm the People‘s Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA).

In a release signed by Sunil, secretary of the committee, that reached this office Monday, the radicals have said that the governments, both at the Centre and the State, are protecting the interests of capitalists.

The Government is busy suppressing different democratic protests and is managing to survive only by use of force and exploiting the innocent people.

The Government does not hesitate to use force against any type of Maoist protest and has even declared it as the single-most danger for the internal security of the country, the release stated.

When the people are deprived of two square meals, the Government is spending crores of rupees in buying arms. On the pretext of joint combing operation, the CRPF, SOG, Greyhounds and the OSAP are arresting and torturing innocent tribals.

The outfit also called upon the poor and suppressed people to stand united against the exploitative ruling class for a mass struggle.

Sunil, who also criticised a section of media for publishing only police statements, said villagers in Gosama and nearby areas are fleeing their homes fearing combing operations and not for the Maoists.

Combing Continues: Meanwhile, the combing operation by the police continued in Gosama forest besides various Naxal-infested areas in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada and other southern districts.

Though police so far have not been able to trace the body of any Naxal, a substantial quantityof recovered arms have been sent back to Nayagarh.