-IBN   In the densely forested Kaimur hills in Rohtas, villagers are now the Bihar Police's first line of defence against maoists. The tribals in Rohtas district in Bihar who till yesterday didn't know much beyond sowing fields or grazing cattle are now being taught to pick up guns and shoot. The police are providing soft loans to the tribals to help them procure weapons and also training them to shoot for...

Decoding the 'mystery' behind maoists, the Centre has for the first time brought out in open many facts that have hitherto remained in official papers and urged aam aadmis to expose true colours of Red rebels in whatever ways they can, including use of social media like Facebook and twitter. In a document, brought out in the form of frequently asked questions (FAQs) last week, the Union home ministry has classified...

-The Indian Express   Don’t panic that maoists have won panchayat polls. Isn’t getting them into the system the idea? The Centre has expressed alarm that, in the ongoing Orissa local elections, maoists have inserted themselves into the very system they also want to destroy. Despite the boycott and attacks on security officials in the area, it turns out that candidates with maoist links have won around 30 blocks in eight districts, including...

The maoists in Orissa may have given a call to boycott the panchayat polls, but in Narayanpatna block of Koraput district they have reportedly got their “own” candidates elected unopposed. Narayanpatna had almost come under siege in 2009 when the rebels propped up the Chasi Mulia Adivasi Sangh (CMAS) to take on the state. Sarpanch and panchayat samiti candidates ‘backed’ by the CMAS have won unopposed in Tentulipadar, Balipeta, Padapadar, Talagumandi,...

In a quiet coup of sorts, maoists have taken control of panchayats in about 30 blocks of Malkangiri and Koraput districts in the ongoing panchayat elections in Orissa. All their nominees have been elected unopposed after the maoists warned local people against nominating any other candidate. Close to 2,500 members of these panchayats have also been elected unopposed. Sources said at least 32 heads of panchayats (sarpanches) have known maoist...