Raipur, Sept 18: It’s the uniforms and weapons of Maoists which attract tribal youths more to join the outlawed movement, rather than their ideology about the fight for land, a study on Naxalism has said.
A group of research scholars headed by Dr Girish Kant Pandey, head of the Department of Defence Studies at Government Science College here, has undertaken a special study to find the reasons which compel tribals to join the Naxal movement and then quit it.
“So far we have interviewed 25 surrendered Naxals who were working with the banned organisation for 12-13 years, but surprisingly none of them understand the Maoist ideology nor could they explain their aim to join the banned outfit,” Dr Pandey, who did his PhD on the subject of Naxal insurgency in the early 90s, said.
“Around 92 per cent rebels joined the movement because of an attraction towards the ‘Army-like’ uniform, guns, Maoist influence, obsession for dance, sloganeering and other activities of Chetna Natya Manch (a cultural outfit of Maoists),” research scholar
Dr Varnika Sharma said.
“None of them were influenced by the Maoist ideology to enter into guerrilla warfare,” Sharma said.
Maximum cadres (about 33 per cent) deserted the movement after being impressed with the government’s surrender policy.
Most of those interviewed believe the government should publicise the provisions of the surrender policy and the assistance being provided to those who lay down arms in remote villages.
The preliminary findings of the study have been submitted to the state police department and soon more states will be covered under it. Agencies
Uniform, weapons entice youth to Maoist fold
