Jharkhand: Attempt to create red scare for 'brutal crackdown', increase loot of resources

Counterview Desk
The civil rights group Forum Against Corporatization and Militarization in a statement on plans to crackdown on “64 democratic progressive organisations” in Jharkhand under the pretext of the need to investigate their Maoist link, has alleged that this an attempt to suppress dissent against corporate loot and create an authoritarian state.
The organisations which may see crackdown include People's Union for Civil Liberties, Association for Protection of Civil Rights, CPI-ML Red Star and Revolutionary Youth Association, among others, the statement, with a letter addressed to the DGP of Jharkhand, said, insisting, the authorities must assure that no such witch-hunt will be carried out, and there is no attempt to raid and harass people opposing displacement.

Text:

On 20th September, 2023, certain news portals made a claim that state police and crime branch of Jharkhand government are initiating investigation into suspected Maoist link of 64 organisations, majorly comprising of organisations working on question of democratic rights, tribal rights, women, peasant and working class etc. The very next day, a joint statement was issued by some of the named organisations, to Director General of Police, Jharkhand; denying the allegations by clarifying their commitment to the democratic cause and the demands of the local people. The said statement also demanded clarification regarding the allegations made in the media report, however, no such clarification has been furnished by the police.
It is important to understand that in previous months, in an NIA raid probing so called “Maoist links" in Jharkhand, various anti-displacement and labour activists such as Damodar Turi, Bacha Singh and others were raided. They are targeted under the presumption that Visthapan Virodhi Janvikas Andolan (VVJA) is a “Maoist Front". Furthermore, other activists raided along with Turi and Singh are founding members of Jharkhand Jan Sangharsh Morcha (JJSM). It is pertinent to mention that both of these joint fronts are named in the said media reports. Therefore, looking at the recent crackdown on anti displacement activists in Jharkhand; coupled with recent NIA Clampdown in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, slapping of UAPA on anti-displacement activists of Niyamgiri Suraksha Samiti and arrests of Dozen of people protesting against rapacious mining and displacement in Mali Parbat ranges, Burhanpur in Madhya Pradesh and Kaimur Mukti Morcha in Bihar; all exposes state's modus operandi in matters of anti-displacement movements. So it will not be an over assessment to say that building an atmosphere of crackdown might be underway in Jharkhand, in light of these media reports.

An atmosphere of crackdown might be underway in Jharkhand, in light of some media reports

What is even more concerning and eye opening is the naming of organisations like APCR, RYA, CPI-ML- Red Star who are known for working on various issues across the country and have separate ideological positions than the Maoists. Even more ironical is the naming of a Gandhian organisation like Ekta Parishad. The list is long and stretches across ideological and issue based spectrum. If the agencies are actually probing such allegations or if its even a “red scare” tactic, the list is so broad and encompassing ideological as well as organizational boundaries to make it evident that State is adamant to suppress any force that resists displacement and corporate loot. It is clear indication that no force will be spared in the state’s attempt to create “red scare" and brutal crackdown to increase the loot of our resources, by domestic as well as foreign corporates. The state is justifying the intensification these crackdowns and corporate loot simultaneously, all in the name of eliminating the Maoist Movement and development.

Forum Against Corporatization and Militarization (FACAM) demands that the DGP and Jharkhand government must issue a clarification on such claims, assure that no such witch-hunt will be carried out; and stop raiding and harassing the people opposing displacement. We also call upon all democratic progressive forces and justice loving people to stand united against such crackdown on anti-displacement movement to protect our resources, environment and the people’s livelihood.

Comments

US-China truce temporary, larger trade war between two economies to continue

By Prabir Purkayastha The Trump-Xi meeting in Busan, South Korea on 30 October 2025 may have brought about a temporary relief in the US-China trade war. But unless we see the fine print of the agreement, it is difficult to assess whether this is a temporary truce or the beginning of a real rapprochement between the two nations. The jury is still out on that one and we will wait for a better understanding of what has really been achieved in Busan.

When growth shrinks people: Capitalism and the biological decline of the U.S. population

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak* Critically acclaimed Hungarian-American economic historian and distinguished scholar of economic anthropometric history, Prof. John Komlos (Professor Emeritus, University of Munich), who pioneered the study of the history of human height and weight, has published an article titled “The Decline in the Physical Stature of the U.S. Population Parallels the Diminution in the Rate of Increase in Life Expectancy” on October 31, 2025, in the forthcoming issue of Social Science & Medicine (SSM) – Population Health, Volume 32, December 2025. The findings of the article present a damning critique of the barbaric nature of capitalism and its detrimental impact on human health, highlighting that the average height of Americans began to decline during the era of free-market capitalism. The study draws on an analysis of 17 surveys from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (...

Mergers and privatisation: The Finance Minister’s misguided banking agenda

By Thomas Franco The Finance Minister has once again revived talk of merging two or three large public sector banks to make them globally competitive. Reports also suggest that the government is considering appointing Managing Directors in public sector banks from the private sector. Both moves would strike at the heart of India’s public banking system . Privatisation undermines the constitutional vision of social and economic justice, and such steps could lead to irreversible damage.

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Rajiv Shah Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Gujarat civil society to move Supreme Court against controversial electoral roll revision

By Rajiv Shah A recent, well-attended meeting of Gujarat civil society activists in Ahmedabad , held to discuss the impact of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, has decided to file a petition in the Supreme Court against the controversial exercise initiated by the Election Commission of India (ECI) across the country. Announcing this, senior High Court advocate Anand Yagnik , who heads the Gujarat chapter of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), said that a committee has already been formed to examine the pros and cons of SIR. “While the SIR exercise began in Gujarat on November 4 and is scheduled to continue for a month, we will file a supporting petition in the case against SIR in the Gujarat High Court or the Supreme Court after observing how it proceeds in the state,” he said. Yagnik’s announcement followed senior advocate Shahrukh Alam —who is arguing the SIR case in the Supreme Court—urging Gujarat’s civil society to also file ...

History, culture and literature of Fatehpur, UP, from where Maulana Hasrat Mohani hailed

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Maulana Hasrat Mohani was a member of the Constituent Assembly and an extremely important leader of our freedom movement. Born in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, Hasrat Mohani's relationship with nearby district of Fatehpur is interesting and not explored much by biographers and historians. Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri has written a book on Maulana Hasrat Mohani and Fatehpur. The book is in Urdu. He has just come out with another important book, 'Hindi kee Pratham Rachna: Chandayan' authored by Mulla Daud Dalmai.' During my recent visit to Fatehpur town, I had an opportunity to meet Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri and recorded a conversation with him on issues of history, culture and literature of Fatehpur. Sharing this conversation here with you. Kindly click this link. --- *Human rights defender. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vbrawat , X @freetohumanity, Skype @vbrawat

Sardar Patel was on Nathuram Godse's hit list: Noted Marathi writer Sadanand More

Sadanand More (right) By A Representative In a surprise revelation, well-known Gujarati journalist Hari Desai has claimed that Nathuram Godse did not just kill Mahatma Gandhi, but also intended to kill Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Citing a voluminous book authored by Sadanand More, “Lokmanya to Mahatma”, Volume II, translated from Marathi into English last year, Desai says, nowadays, there is a lot of talk about conspiracy to kill Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, but little is known about how the Sardar was also targeted.

Shrinking settlements, fading schools: The Tibetan exile crisis in India

By Tseten Lhundup* Since the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, the Tibetan exile community in Dharamsala has established the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as the guardian of Tibetan culture and identity. Once admired for its democratic governance , educational system , and religious vitality , the exile community now faces an alarming demographic and institutional decline.

Search This Blog