[Reader-list] Why Maoists so keen on owning up?

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

Why Maoists so keen on owning up? Express News Service
06 Oct. 2008

Link -
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Why+Maoists+so+keen+on+owning+up?&artid=zrImZwCIbVg=&SectionID=mvKkT3vj5ZA=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=nUFeEOBkuKw=&SEO=

BHUBANESWAR: Why are the Maoists so insistent on shouldering responsibility
of Swami Lakshamanananda Saraswati's killing? That too after releasing three
letters to media during last one month claiming their role in the murder.

Weird as it may sound, but by 'repeating' their claim to a select media
group Saturday through an interview by a leader of their State chapter that
they were behind the August 23 killing has created more suspicion about
their intention.

After the Swami's murder, CPI (Maoist)'s State Organisation Committee issued
three releases to lay claim to the incident. Secretary of the committee
Sunil made it amply clear that the radicals killed the VHP leader because
they were opposed to his practices in the tribal district.

In fact, the Maoists had reportedly left a leaflet at the Tumudibandh ashram
- where the incident had occurred - staking claim. The State Government too,
in the initial days, toed the line that the murder was the handiwork of the
radicals, but never went beyond that.

Surprisingly, the Maoist outfit also kept quiet for quite a while before it
formally came out with a release to own up responsibility following it up
with two others in quick succession. In all the three, the radicals had made
it amply clear why they did it.

''So what's the need for making such a fuss about it now? Are they trying to
shield anybody? With saffron outfits blaming it on Christian militants, the
latest round of revelation has only managed to strengthen the former's
claims that the radicals are taking sides. Are they?'' a senior police
officer said.

However, the fact remains that the Orissa Government has shot itself in its
feet by not persisting with the Maoist theory after the first few days.

Or, is it a well thought out plan to divert attention from the strife the
district is now witnessing since the Centre is breathing down Naveen Patnaik
Government's neck and the Maoist leader just a stooge? If yes, who is behind
this orchestration? The interview has thrown up a number of such questions.

Moreover, it has also raised serious questions on efficiency of the State
Government and its police force. If the Maoist leader, wanted by police
after the spate of recent violence in the State, can organise an interview,
is it difficult for the police to pin him down? Does it not speak volumes of
the intelligence network? Or are they going soft on him deliberately?