Even as the issue of ‘frontal organisations’ of CPI (Maoist) is being debated hotly in political circles during the ongoing Winter Session of State Legislature, an assessment by State Police reveals that at least 32 such organisations are active in Maharashtra. Besides, these organisations are making an effort to expand the ‘urban Naxalism’ footprint by focussing on recruitment of youngsters from Amravati, Marathwada and Konkan regions apart from earlier known locations. A copy of the assessment that ‘The Hitavada’ could get access to, reveals that apart from these ‘frontal organisations’, the CPI (Maoist) has more than 200 active cadres in Maharashtra. Of these, more than 80 are armed cadres who are actively operating in forested areas of the State. The number was previously more, but the concerted police action in the past few years has inflicted heavy losses to the Maoists. As a result, in many parts of Gadchiroli, the Maoist dalams have been decimated. With a new boost to development in the worst-affected district of Gadchiroli, the Maoists are finding it difficult to recruit fresh cadres because the youth are either dejected or are employed. Owing to the setbacks, the Maoists are once again focussing on urban areas to hunt for potential recruits. In 2011, Maharashtra Police had booked 14 persons and busted what was referred to as ‘Golden Corridor Committee’ of CPI (Maoist). This committee, it was said, was active in Pune and Western Maharashtra as well as Mumbai, Thane, and belt up to Surat, and recruiting youngsters for Maoists. In fact, the Anti-Terrorism Squad had found that a ‘training workshop’ was organised by frontal organisations and Maoist sympathisers in Contd from page 1 Khed tehsil of Pune district. An artist Santosh Shelar from Pune who had gone missing was later identified by agencies as Maoist ‘Vishwa’, who was also known as ‘Painter’ in the outlawed organisation. In 2023-24, he surrendered to the police citing health concerns. Another man, Pradeep Kamble, also was recruited in the armed Naxal dalam by the outlaws. As per the police assessment, the Maoists have been actively working to expand their presence in Ahmedabad-Pune industrial corridor, Western Ghats areas, and major cities including Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Chandrapur.

 

The assessment also indicates that the Maoists and their frontal organisations were actively involved in provoking those who had participated in farmers’ agitation in Delhi, agitation against Citizenship Amendment Act, agitations at Aarey Colony and Barsu, etc. They had tried to foment trouble through Bhima-Koregaon incident too, said sources. Now, they are focussing on newer areas looking for recruits. These areas include Amravati, Akola, and Melghat in Vidarbha region, Marathwada and Konkan regions of Maharashtra. Some of the frontal organisations operate with the name ‘revolutionary’ or synonyms in their names, said sources. Earlier this year, during the Lok Sabha elections, the Left Wing Extremists had concentrated on 125 constituencies in the country and 23 in Maharashtra. Most of these constituencies in Maharashtra were from urban areas. These included Mumbai North-West, Mumbai North-East, Mumbai North-Central, Mumbai South-Central, Mumbai South, Akola, Yavatmal, Amravati, Wardha etc. In these constituencies, the Maoist frontal organisations tried to create polarisation against Bharatiya Janata Party in particular. But, said sources, this does not mean that they favour other parties. “Rather, it is the strategy of the Maoists to work through open legal organisations to achieve their objectives. When the Congress-led Government was in power at the Centre, the Maoists had criticised P Chidambaram, the erstwhile Union Home Minister, also in their literature,” an official told ‘The Hitavada’.

 

According to sources in the know of things, the Maoists operate in urban areas through various ‘mass organisations’. These ‘mass organisations’ are of three types -- secret revolutionary mass organisations, open and semi-open revolutionary mass organisations, and open legal mass organisations not directly linked to the ‘Party’ (CPI-Maoist). The urban work within the open legal mass organisations is sub-divided into three broad categories -- fractional work, Party-formed cover organisations, and legal democratic organisations. “All these details are there in the CPI-Maoist’s own booklet on their work in urban areas.

 

The Maoists operating in urban areas through cover or frontal organisations has been a reality for years, but how to identify them and secure their conviction is a big challenge. This part needs serious legal support,” said an officer on the condition of anonymity. Provide list of ‘frontal organisations’: