Maoists appoint students to spy on their classmates

Raipur: In a move to counter anti-Maoist rallies being organised in different parts of south Bastar in Chhattisgarh, particularly by school students, Maoists have adopted a “dangerous” strategy of pitting classmates against each other in educational institutions in the region to foil such anti-rebel campaigns.

The Naxals’ plan would vitiate the academic atmosphere in interior Bastar creating suspicion against each other among the students in the schools, police sources feared.

“In a meeting of senior Naxal leaders held on August 15 in a jungle in southern part of Sukma district in south Bastar, it has been decided to deploy students, indoctrinated by the reds, to spy on their classmates and teachers in their respective schools to monitor their anti-Maoist activities. The strategy is not only diabolical but also dangerous as it would poison the academic environment in the area,” Sukma district additional superintendent of police (Naxal operation) Santosh Singh disclosed.

According to Mr Singh, Maoists have inducted some school students in interior Bastar in their child wing unit, Bal Sangham, to use them as informers and couriers to keep a vigil on movement of the security forces.

But, this was the first time Naxals were using the children cadre against their own schoolmates. The Naxals have also adopted a coercive tactic to dissuade the students and their parents from participating in such anti-Maoist campaigns.

The rebel leaders have warned the local tribals of serious consequence if they did not desist from taking out such rallies.

Apparently shaken by a series of anti-Naxal rallies being organised in different parts of south Bastar, Maoists have accused the police of using pupils to stir passion against them in the region. More than 50 such rallies have so far been organised in the region.