By IANS
Ranchi : Taking a cue from the security forces, Maoist rebels in Jharkhand have introduced a system of paying compensation to the family members of their killed cadres.
In a recent case, the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) paid Rs.50,000 as compensation to Budhia Devi (name changed), widow of a Maoist cadre who was killed in an encounter with security forces in 2006, in Latehar district. The Maoists also ensured that her two children go to school.
Like Budhia there are more than two dozen families across the state who have received compensation from the CPI-Maoist. The police believe the compensation is given only to families of hardcore members of the outfit.
The amount of compensation, which is believed to have been introduced last year, varies from Rs.25,000 to Rs.100,000 depending upon the stature of the killed Maoist rebel.
“We do have information that CPI-Maoist in some parts of the state have introduced compensation system for its cadres. The compensation system has been introduced to stop the exodus of its cadres to other outfits,” said R.K. Mallik, spokesperson of Jharkhand police.
The CPI-Maoist has more than 3,000 hardcore cadres who actively participate in subversive activities. Police said that the leftist guerrilla group also pays to its cadres a monthly salary varying between Rs.3,000 and Rs.8,000. The Maoists also have children and women squads, which are used for various purposes.
Jharkhand was the first state in India to pay huge compensation to its policemen killed in anti-Maoist operations. The state government pays compensation of Rs.1 million in cash to the families of killed policemen besides providing a job to one of member of the family and free school education to all children.
Maoist rebels are active in 18 of the 24 districts of the state. More than 1,000 people, including civilians and Maoist rebels, have been killed in the last seven years since the state was carved out of Bihar.