MP Govt to recruit 850 local tribals to keep watch on Maoists

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Bhopal, May 6 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh government has decided to recruit local tribal youths in Naxal-hit districts to keep a close watch on the movement of Maoists entering from the neighbouring states of Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.

A decision in the regarding was taken during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday, senior BJP leader and the state’s Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said.

The minister informed that the Cabinet has approved a proposal to recruit 850 local tribal youths in the three Naxal-hit districts of Balaghat, Mandla and Dindori.

These youths will work for the state government and will be paid Rs. 25,000 per month for one year.

“These local tribal youths will work as informers. They will keep a close watch on the movement of suspected Maoists and will pass the information to the security officials through a proper communication channel. They would be recruited for a period of one year,” Vijayvargiya said.

The Minister further stated that after effective implementation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a Naxal-free India by 2026, many Naxalites have started surrendering.

“A few days ago, I visited Chhattisgarh, and I was informed that a large number of Naxalites have sent surrender proposals. They want a better future for their children,” the minister said while briefing media persons.

He said there was a huge possibility that Naxalites would move towards Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat, Mandla and Dindori districts.

In line with this mission, Madhya Pradesh will take decisive steps to eliminate Naxalism completely.

“We have credible inputs that some Naxalites have entered Madhya Pradesh, therefore, the state government has decided to keep a close watch on them,” Vijayvargiya added.

He further said the construction of roads, expansion of telecommunication facilities and deployment of security personnel in affected areas have yielded positive results in controlling Naxal elements.

Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a visit to Chhattisgarh on February 9 had stated that Naxals would be eradicated by March 31, 2026 and no citizen of the country would have to lose his life due to it.

–IANS

pd/rad

Related Posts

Hurriyat chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq put under house arrest in J&K’s Srinagar

Srinagar, March 14 (IANS) Anjuman-e-Auqaf Jamia Masjid in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar city on Friday expressed deep disappointment and regret over the alleged house arrest of its president, Maulvi Umer Farooq thereby preventing him from delivering the Friday sermon and offering congregational prayers at the historic mosque.

A statement by the Mirwaiz headed Anjuman-e-Auqaf Jamia Masjid said, “This arbitrary and unjustified move by the authorities comes at a time when the holy month of Ramzan is going on, a month of immense spiritual significance for Muslims worldwide.”

“Jamia Masjid is the central place of worship where thousands gather for Friday prayers, seeking guidance, blessings, and connection with the Almighty. However, barring the Mirwaiz from fulfilling his religious duties and preventing the faithful from benefiting from his sermons deeply hurts the religious sentiments of the people,” the statement said.

Mirwaiz Umer Farooq is the chairman of the Hurriyat Conference.

It must be recalled that two days back, the Union Home Ministry (MHA) banned the Mirwaiz Umer Farooq-headed Awami Action Committee (ACC) for a period of five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The ACC was founded by the late Mirwaiz Maulana Mohammad Farooq in 1963 during the Holy Relic agitation in Kashmir. After the assassination of Mirwaiz Maulana Mohammad Farooq by terrorists in 1990, his son, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq headed the ACC.

The MHA also banned J&K Ittehadul Muslimeen (JKIM) headed by Maulvi Masroor Abbas Ansari for a period of five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The JKIM was founded by the Shia Muslim separatist leader, the late Maulvi Abbas Ansari. After his death, his son, Maulvi Masroor Abbas came to head the JKIM.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a post on social media platform X said that these organisations were inciting people to disrupt law and order, posing a threat to the unity and integrity of the country.

Amit Shah said that anyone found involved in activities against the nation’s peace, order and sovereignty was bound to face the crushing blow of the Modi government.

–IANS

sq/dpb

Chhattisgarh liquor scam: ED raids former CM Bhupesh Baghel’s son and close aides

Raipur, March 10 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted raids at 14 locations linked to the son of former CM Bhupesh Baghel and others in Chhattisgarh’s Durg district under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The action is part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged Rs 2,161 crore liquor scam in the state.

ED teams searched the residence of Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, as well as premises linked to his close aides and businessman Laxmi Narayan Bansal, also known as Pappu Bansal.

Investigators have reportedly found evidence suggesting that Chaitanya Baghel was among the beneficiaries of the illegally generated money.

In January, the ED had arrested former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma, alleging that he played a key role in the scam and failed to act against the illicit liquor trade. Lakhma is accused of receiving Rs 2 crore in illegal payments every month. The agency also claims that proceeds from the scam were funnelled into real estate investments, causing significant losses to the state exchequer.

The ED’s latest action has triggered a political storm in Chhattisgarh. Opposition parties have renewed corruption allegations against the government. Congress workers held a protest outside Bhupesh Baghel’s house against the ED raids.

Office of former CM Bhupesh Baghel, in a post on X, dismissed the raids as politically motivated, stating: “When the false case going on for seven years was dismissed in court, the ED arrived at the Bhilai residence of former Chief Minister and Congress General Secretary Bhupesh Baghel this morning. If someone is trying to stop Congress in Punjab through this conspiracy, they are mistaken.”

The liquor scam, according to the ED, was allegedly carried out between 2019 and 2022, when the Congress government, led by Baghel, was in power. So far, the agency has attached assets worth Rs 205 crore belonging to various accused.

The investigation is still going on, with more revelations expected in the coming days.

–IANS

skp/

Tripura govt to resolve tribal Kokborok script issue soon: CM Saha

Agartala, March 21 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday said that the state government would not compromise with students’ future and would resolve the tribal ‘Kokborok’ language script issue soon.

The Chief Minister in his statement on the first day of the week-long budget session said that the government is sincerely studying the ‘Kokborok’ language script issue and would resolve the issue soon.

“There were detailed discussions, and a series of talks were held on the issue. We questioned why the Roman script and why not the Devanagari script to write in the ‘Kokborok’ language? Many discussions took place, but no concrete decision was made. Several agitations and protests were held for many years. The leadership also met with me and we discussed the matter. As per the recent tripartite agreement, this script issue is also included, and talks are ongoing,” Saha told the House.

Emphasising that the present government is a government of pro-solutions, he said: “We must consider the pros and cons of the matter. We will resolve the issue.

“We respect all communities, traditions, and languages. We also want a final solution. In this year’s CBSE exams, around 1,412 students enrolled, 1,339 attended the exam, and 73 were absent. If the invigilator can understand, then the student will not face any issue. However, we will not compromise with students and their future. We will take steps to ensure that they do not face any problems,” he added.

Meanwhile, a leading tribal student organization — Twipra Students’ Federation (TSF) on Friday held a day-long demonstration demanding the adoption of the Roman script for tribal Kokborok language, and blockade the main VIP road leading to the Agartala Airport, Assembly, Civil Secretariat, High Court and other government installation.

The protest coincided with the first day of Tripura Assembly’s budget Session, intensifying their decades-old demand for script reform for Kokborok language.

Hundreds of tribal students and youths gathered near key intersections, severely disrupting vehicular movement and raising slogans in favor of their demand.

The protest led to massive traffic congestion, with commuters facing delays as security personnel struggled to clear the blockade.

Speaking to the media, TSF leader James Debbarma asserted that their demand for the Roman script for Kokborok language had been ignored for over five decades despite repeated assurances from successive governments.

He accused the state government of failing to recognise the preference of a large section of the indigenous community, who find Roman script more accessible than the Bengali script currently used in official records and education.

Sighting the example of formation of Bangladesh and due to imposition of Urdu over Bengali script, the TSF leader said that the state government has time and again failed to address the aspirations of indigenous communities.

“The Roman script is widely used among Kokborok speakers, and we will not back down until our demand is met,” said the TSF leader at the protest site.

–IANS

sc/pgh