PM Modi's Chhattisgarh visit: Naxals pull off a cheap publicity stunt

Bengaluru, May 9: The Chhattisgarh state intelligence bureau had warned of naxals attempting to strike ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit. The naxals had already declared a boycott of the programme but had felt that they were being defeated as the villagers had decided to defy all odds and attend the Prime Minister's programme scheduled to be held today.

Around 300 villagers at Naringa in Chhattisgarh which is a very strong naxal belt are currently with the naxals and are being prevented from attending the programme. However the villagers are safe and the naxals are lecturing them on why they ought not to attend the programme.

Villagers are safe:

Police officials who denied that this was an abduction attempt ahead of the PM's visit however said that there are several villagers who are with the naxals at the moment. All of them are safe and face no threat to their lives, police officials who have begun an operation to taken the villagers out of the naxal hide out informed Oneindia.

All these villagers had decided that they would attend the programme by the Prime Minister. However naxals began identifying these persons and took them to their hide out. While these villagers are being lectured by the naxals not to attend the programme, they have even decided to let them go once the programme is over.

A cheap publicity attempt:

This act by the naxals is not just being seen as a cowardly act, but also a cheap publicity stunt. The very fact that they had to muscle the villagers goes on to show that their cause is being defeated very badly, a state intelligence officer informed.

Naxals have been waging a losing battle in Chhattisgarh off late. They no longer had the support of the villagers as a result of which their logistic base and information hub has been busted. This act to keep the villagers in captivity until the PM leaves is a publicity stunt, officials say.

They would not dare harm the villagers and if they do they will only defeat their cause further. This incident is just a way of conveying to the villagers that they rule the roost in Chhattisgarh and any programme by the government must be avoided at any cost.

OneIndia News