Naxalism in Jharkhand: Causes and Analysis.

Naxalism was prevalent in the area even before the birth of Jhankhand in the then state of Bihar. Presently 18 districts out of 24 districts in Jharkhand are affected by Naxalism.
Hazaribargh, Lohardaga, Palamu, Chatra, Garhwa, Ranchi, Gumla, Simdega, Latehar, Giridih, Koderma, Bokaro, Dhanbad, East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, Saraikela, Kharsawa, Khunti, Ramgarhare are Naxalite affected areas.74

Since the bifurcation of the state of Bihar into Bihar and Jharkhand, and birth of Jharkhand on 15th November 2000, Naxalite violence, especially that of the MCC, has shifted to Jharkhand, which is rich in mineral and forest wealth. Jharkhand, provides higher prospect for raising funds for the Naxalite activities.

Causes of Naxalism in Jharkhand :- 

• External Support :- The external political factor was the influence of the Chinese Communist Party and Mao Zedong. The Naxalites were deeply influenced by the two. Their slogans were: China’s path isour path, China’s Chairman is our Chairman. 
• Arms oriented movement :- The Naxalbari movement became the symbol of armed peasant uprising and of Maoism in India and evolved as a new political movement deriving its name from it. It has taken the path of violence and aggression by the use of arms and terror.
• Insensitive political system :-  The system is non-responsive to the needs of the tribals. Tribals, have have received little from the Indian state after independence. The Indian state has always taken the land and alienated the tribals for ‘progress’ that must be put up with. They remained exploited and do
  not have oppurtunities to progress.
• Poverty and economic Inequality :- Rising incomes in the post-reform India have created a rapidly growing aspiring class but these have also contributed to an army of socio-economic orphans who have been rejected by all mainstream political parties.
• Slow implementation of land reforms:- The slow implementation of land reforms is the main reason for the growth of Naxalism. Landlords frequently moved the court to delay implementation of these reforms. They also settel with local politicians and bureaucrats, making the land reform process slow and cumbersome. Land reforms failed in the end.
• Failed expectations: They may have some hope in the future but it may so happen that in the future they do not receive any benefits from growth and further their situation worsened by a sudden change. All these make them feel that their present situation is worse than the past.
• Lack of adequate knowledge and education:- Schooling is poor or nonexistent; hence the rural youth fight a losing battle against their urban youth counterparts. This forces them to return to rural areas, still aspiring for urban facilities.

Stratergy of Naxalism in Jharkhand :- 

• Hit and Run :- They resorted to as “hit and run” tactics so that they may create panic in the police force and can run away with their arms and ammunitions.
• Release of Comrades :- Attack is organized when some important comrades are to be released from the police custody or from jails.
• Peoples court :- The Maoists also deliver Kangaroo justice through their “Peoples' Court”, Jana Adalat. Here the cases pending are solved on the spot and decisions are made.
• Barbaric justice :- Maoists reportedly killed one John Hembrom, chopped off the hands of two other persons and an ear of another, all of them hailing from different villages in Giridih district, following their convictions in the Jana Adalat conducted by the Maoists somewhere in the adjoining Jamui district in Bihar.
• Indoctrination :-  The new technique of the Naxalites in Jharkhand is to indoctrinate kids, who would constitute cannon fodder for the revolution. Target the young is the new buzzword among the top brass of the Maoist extremists in Jharkhand these days. They have decided on roping in the kids by deep penetration into schools in the rural pockets of Jharkhand and indoctrination of revolutionary ideals in the young minds.

Characterstic of Naxalism in Jharkhand :- 

• Intensity of Naxalism :-The Naxalites are most active in Jharkhand. They make more destruction in Jharkhand when compared to states like Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Maharashtra and other states.
• Naxal clamp downs :- In Jharkhand, the Naxalites announce the most number of clamp downs. When compared to other states which are affected by Naxalites. Jharkhand faces far more number of clamp downs (Naxali bandi). Almost, in every two months, there is a Naxal clamp.
• Tough to infiltrate:- Compared to other states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand is a plateau and the geographical features here don't allow the armed authorities to penetrate deep into jungles, infiltrate it and fight Naxals. Whenever, they tried to do so, most of the times, they lost their lives.

By: Shashank Shekhar