Are there divisions in the Maoist ranks in Odisha?

Bhubaneswar: The infighting within the ranks of the CPI-Maoist party in Odisha is out in the open. A day after Sabysachi Panda, who heads the Odisha State Organising Committee of the party (OSOC), issued a statement denying any involvement in the murder of 40 year old Deb Jagaranga, husband of Lakeri Jagaranga, the lady Sarpanch of Hanumantpur panchayat in Rayagada district on 22 May and even condemning the act, Maoist leader Nikhil, who claims to be the secretary of the Bashdhara Divisional Committee of the party, has come up with a rejoinder questioning Panda's motive and his commitment to the party.

In an audio statement in Odia issued on Friday evening, Nikhil says the killing was not only in accordance with their party's decision but also that this was made known to Sabyasachi long ago. He says Jagaranga deserved the death sentence because he had made four attempts to attack them with police help. Nikhil says, "The Kesura forest police encounter in January this year in which we lost a cadre, Bisu, was based on intelligence inputs provided by Deb Jagaranga."

But what is far more significant is that Nikhil has openly challenged Sabyasachi Panda's motives and his commitment to the party and its goals. "We still do not know what kind of message Sabyasachi Panda wanted to send across by issuing such a statement. We have now reasons to seriously doubt his commitment because he appears to have distanced himself from the people's struggle. If he is not taking on the State despite having armed cadres with him, what is he upto ?"

On March 25, Sabyasachi while releasing Claudio Colangelo, one of the two Italian nationals he had abducted had informed NDTV of the 'serious differences' that had developed between him and the powerful Andhra-Odisha Border Special Zonal Committee (AOBSZC) of the Maoist party 'on ideological and tactical issues'.

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Interestingly, unlike the AOBSZC Maoists who had abducted the BJD MLA, Jhina Hikaka, Sabyasachi entered into negotiations with the Odisha government for the release of the two Italians he had 'arrested' and also announced "unilateral ceasefire" from his side. He had even issued a statement asking the Odisha government to treat his group, OSOC, as a separate entity and not to hold him responsible for acts of violence by other maoist groups operating within the state.

Although it is not clear whether Sabyasachi's differences with the powerful Andhra-Chhatisgarh groups is ideological or personal in nature, there are enough reasons to believe he is slowly getting alienated from the party.

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There were media reports that a powerful section within the CPI-Maoist wants to eliminate Sabyasachi  for indulging in 'anti-party and anti-people activities'. A source in Odisha police says a group of Maoists belonging to Andhra Pradesh and Chhatisgarh had tried to 'kill' the Odisha Maoist leader in April when he still had the Italian national Paolo Bosusco in his custody. This, however, does not appear to be true because only 2 days ago, the Central Committee of the Maoist party has strongly defended and justified the abduction of the two Italians by Sabaysachi and the OSOC.

Some reports suggest Sabyasachi who carries a reward of Rs 20 lakh on his head, is now leading a small band of around 20 poorly armed cadres and that he is on the run to avoid getting caught.

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A top source in Odisha police, however, says Sabyasachi may have had problems with AOBSZC but the top leaders in the party continue to back him and would be most willing to send additional forces whenever he requires. The same source maintains that Sabyasachi, despite his 'truncated resources' continues to enjoy the support of tribals and dalits across the four districts that he commands- Ganjam, Gajapati, Kandhamal and Rayagada- for the simple reason that he does not subscribe to the idea of violence for violence sake and unlike the 'blood-thirsty' and 'alien' cadres from Andhra and Chhatisgarh, happens to be an 'organic and home-grown leader who speaks their language and for them'.

There have been reports in the regional media about Sabyasachi Panda's plan to surrender' and 'return to the mainstream politics', but sources close to him reject that possibility and insist he would rather get killed than give up his 'ideals'. " Let the state government lift the ban on people's democratic organisations like Kui Labang Sangh, Daman Partirodh Manch and Chasi Mulia Samiti and allow people like Sabyasachi Panda to operate within the democratic space", says his wife Subhashree Das who has had to spend two years in jail until her acquittal by the court in April this year. (Incidentally Sabyasachi was closely associated with these organisations before he joined the Maoist rank.) The police on the other hand insist that Odisha's Maoist leader is trying to enrol new members and strengthen his outfit.