MAOIST REBELS FORM 'SUICIDE SQUAD' TO TARGET POLITICANS

August 22, 2004 - (IANS) An outlawed Maoist group has formed a suicide squad comprising women and children to target top politicians in Jharkhand, including Chief Minister Arjun Munda, police officials here said.

Besides Munda, the politicians who reportedly figure in the hit list of the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) are former chief minister Babulal Marandi and some current and former ministers of the state, the officials said.

Several police officers are also believed to be on the list.

Police in Giridih district first learnt about the suicide squad formed by MCC.

"The squad has both children and women and they have been assigned the job of killing Marandi," said an intelligence source.

"The squad will try to mingle with people in public meetings and try to eliminate politicians. This is the first time that MCC has formed such a suicide squad."

Police officials claimed the squad had been trained in Nepal and Andhra Pradesh.

"According to our reports, about a dozen MCC activists have been trained for the squad," said a police official.

Though Maoists have never carried out suicide attacks in Jharkhand, reports of the squad have worried state security agencies.

MCC unsuccessfully tried to kill Marandi by detonating a landmine at a public meeting addressed by him in Giridih last year.

"We have taken reports about the suicide squad seriously and stepped up security for top politicians who are on the hit list," said an officer of Special Branch.
Munda, Marandi and Governor Ved Prakash Marwah are currently provided "Z" category security, the second highest level of security cover for Indian politicians.

Security for about a dozen politicians, including ministers, and half a dozen police officers posted in areas dominated by the rebels has been beefed up.

The two banned Maoist groups -- MCC and People's War Group -- are unhappy with the Jharkhand government for launching counter-insurgency operations that have resulted in the death or arrest of several rebel leaders.

Maoist rebels are active in 18 of the state's 22 districts. Nearly 500 people, including 200 policemen, have been killed in Maoist violence since the creation of Jharkhand in November 2000.

From: http://in.news.yahoo.com/040822/43/2fmhw.html