RANCHI: In an effort to rebuild its image among the masses, the outlawed CPI (Maoist) has decided not to target polling parties and booths to enforce their election boycott call. The rebel outfit said it is instead trying to “win the confidence of the people by protecting them from coercive techniques of security forces who forcefully drag villagers out of their homes and take them to booths”.

Talking to TOI recently, senior leaders of the Maoists ’ Bihar Jharkhand Special Area Committee (BJSAC) said security forces will only be targeted if they harass the villagers. BJSAC spokesperson Azaad said: “People are not interested in the poll process when they are running to collect a square meal from the forests and earn a living for their families. But when they are forcefully picked up from homes and threatened by the security forces, they are left with no choice but to vote.”

He said that apart from using intimidation, several villagers are booked under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) branding them as Maoists in case they try to keep away from the polling process. “We understand their plight. We have decided not to fall into the trap of security forces by targeting booths, but that does not mean we will allow them to harass innocent villagers,” Azaad said.

Issuing a sentimental appeal to the security forces, reminding them of the fact that they also belong to poor families, the Maoists have asked them to understand the penury of villagers and desist from acting as pawns of the government machinery. “We do not like indiscriminate killing of the security forces because they too belong to poor families. They have joined the forces to earn a living, but since their guns target us, we have no choice but to retaliate,” he said.

Responding to the comments of the banned outfit, Jharkhand IG (operations) Ashish Batra said the rebels are on a back foot in almost every part of the state because of a series of surrenders, arrests and seizures of huge cache of arms and ammunition. “They may not like to engage with the security forces head on and try to take a high moral ground, but the fact is that their strength has reduced considerably, and they are not in a position to counter the operations,” he said.

Batra however pointed out that the rebels may use landmines to reduce casualty on their part and create an environment of terror. “We are prepared to handle and foil such motives because we too are working with the people and they will provide us with intel inputs,” he said.

