Patna: Ever thought about how the top Maoist leaders are keeping themselves updated in the jungle where there is no internet facility available and also no 24X7 news channels?
Authorities have revealed that top Maoists holed up in the dense forests of Lakhisarai district in Bihar are reading at least three English newspapers for “correct” information and keep them updated with the latest developments across the globe and in their own country. The three English dailies which are giving them company in their hideouts are The Statesman, The Telegraph and The Times of India.
Reports said the officials have intensified surveillance following intelligence inputs that three English newspapers were being supplied inside the Kajra forests, one of the strongholds of Maoists located in Lakhisarai district.
A man dealing in the newspaper business said more than 150 copies of these three national English dailies reach Lakhisarai town for their distribution. Of them, quite few copies of them are supplied in the forests of the Kajra as rebels choose to rely on the information being provided by these English dailies rather than going for local vernacular newspapers available in abundance.
“There are quite many top-ranking cadres in the organisation who are well educated and have good knowledge of English. So they may have liking for these English dailies. This is nothing unusual,” the local assistant superintendent of police Pawan Kumar Upadhyay told the media. Upadhyay has been in charge of operation against Maoists in the district.
The other reason behind reading English newspapers, a source said, is that a good number of Maoist leaders taking shelter in the inaccessible jungles of Bihar are from the south and they don’t have proper knowledge of Hindi, official language of the government of India. Thus, they are compelled to go through these English newspapers.
But why only these three English dailies in high demand while many more are available in Bihar? “Perhaps, they may have found the news stories, editorials and other contents published there more authentic and in the interests of the common men,” commented an official, wishing not to be quoted.
Top Maoists leaders are currently holed up in jungles and inaccessible hill regions connecting various states in India as the state governments in both Bihar and Jharkhand have launched massive combing operation to free the areas from rebels. Recently the authorities declared most part of the state free from Maoist activities.
The neighbouring Jharkhand state too is carrying out intensive combing operations to free three of its hills from rebels. The government hopes to drive out Maoists from the state soon.
