VZCZCXRO4973
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI
DE RUEHCI #0327/01 3050757
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 010757Z NOV 07
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1740
INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1647
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0738
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0743
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0480
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0482
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 0334
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0392
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 2130

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000327 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV SOCI IN
SUBJECT: MAOIST INSURGENTS TARGET FORMER JHARKHAND CHIEF MINISTER'S 
FAMILY --  KILL 18 PEOPLE 
 
REF: KOLKATA  00074 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  On October 27 in the eastern Indian state of 
Jharkhand, Maoist rebels shot and killed eighteen people after a 
football (soccer) match, including the youngest son of 
Jharkhand's former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi.  The attack 
occurred in the village of Giridih near the Jharkhand-Bihar 
border.  The GOI and Jharkhand government has responded by 
ordering the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to launch a 
"clean-up" operation against Maoists in Jharkhand, as well as in 
parts of neighboring West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.  The attack 
in Jharkhand attack reflects a shift in Maoist tactics in 
specifically targeting individuals and their families who have 
taken action against the Maoists -- in addition to the 
insurgents' general focus on killing law enforcement or 
government officials.  In West Bengal on October 26, one woman 
was killed in a landmine attack allegedly orchestrated by the 
Maoists in the West Midnapur district.  Jharkhand's government, 
which has not spent available funds to counter the Maoists, 
continues to fail in effectively responding to the growing 
insurgency in the state.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Maoist rebels killed eighteen people, including Anup 
Marandi, the youngest son of former Chief Minister and leader of 
the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Democratic) Babulal Marandi.  The 
attack took place after a football match in a village near 
Giridih, which borders the state of Bihar.  The attack occurred 
around midnight during the post-match prize distribution 
ceremony.  According to media reports, approximately fifteen 
armed Maoists came to a village in Giridih to look for Anup 
Marandi's brother, Nanulal Marandi.  Nanulal Marandi apparently 
recognized the danger and managed to escape from the area. 
According to news reports, the Maoists then opened fire 
indiscriminately.  Eyewitnesses claimed that some of the Maoists 
were dressed in CRPF uniforms. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) This recent incident indicates the Maoists' new tactic 
of targeting officials and their families who express opposition 
or take action against the Maoists.  On Sept 7  in Andhra 
Pradesh, Maoists attempted to kill former Andhra Pradesh Chief 
Minister N. Janardhan Reddy and his wife N. Rajyalakshmi by 
triggering a landmine under their convoy as it crossed a bridge. 
 The Chief Minister and his wife's vehicle was missed but the 
following vehicle was hit and three people were killed. The 
Maoists issued a message saying that they tried killing Reddy 
because he had banned the Maoists in 1992.  On March 4, again in 
Jharkhand, Maoists killed Jamshedpur MP Sunil Mahto and three 
others, when Mahto was participating in a local football match 
prize distribution ceremony (reftel).  Mahato was killed, 
according to leaflets left by the Maoists, for his efforts to 
counter the Maoist insurgency in the state. 
 
¶4. (SBU)  The response from the Jharkhand government so far has 
been disorganized.  A senior Jharkhand police official told Post 
that he thought the attackers may have fled to Bihar.  When we 
asked about ongoing efforts made by the State to curb Maoist 
activity, the official said that out of a total fund of Rs. 
20.94 billion (approx. USD 520 million) provided by the 
Jharkhand Government during the last three fiscal years, the 
Home Department of the State, which is responsible for security, 
has spent only Rs. 847.2 million (approx. USD 21.5 million). 
The remaining funds had been returned without explanation. 
 
¶5. (SBU)  Following the attack, the Jharkhand government, along 
with the GOI, asked the CRPF to launch "Operation Vikram" to 
"clean-up" the Maoists operating in 18 of Jharkhand's 24 
districts.  Five companies of paramilitary forces (nearly 600 
personnel) are conducting raids in Giridih district and in 
neighboring Bihar's Jamui district.  Police sources told Post 
that Jharkhand officials are also seeking the help of 
neighboring states to conduct these operations. 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  On October 26 in neighboring West Bengal, a woman was 
killed and another critically injured in the crossfire between 
Maoists and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in West 
Bengal's West Midnapore district.  The shooting occurred after a 
landmine blast by the Maoists near Tangbheda forest in West 
Midnapore.  Although a CRPF jeep narrowly escaped the explosion, 
a tourist bus passing by sustained damage and then was caught in 
the crossfire between the Maoists and paramilitary troopers. 
The district police have arrested three men in connection with 
 
KOLKATA 00000327  002 OF 002 
 
 
the blast. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Comment:  The Maoists clearly have taken a more 
aggressive approach by targeting those who seek to publicly 
oppose their growing insurgency in eastern India.  The Jharkhand 
government's weak response to the attack underscores the state's 
continuing inability to combat the Maoists.  It is not a 
question of money - in fact it appears that funds intended for 
anti-Maoist activities are going unused.  The manner and 
brazenness of the killing show that Maoists can operate 
unrestrained in Jharkhand, and that the state has no effective 
response to the Maoist threat. 
JARDINE