Maoists targeting Jan Dhan account holders to deposit demonetised notes

The outlawed CPI (Maoist) is allegedly targeting Bihar villagers who have Jan Dhan accounts to deposit its stock of demonetised notes, the group’s ‘zonal commander’ revealed to the police on Wednesday.

Ram Pravesh Yadav alias Damkal Jee, who was nabbed by Aurangabad police on Tuesday, told police that top leaders of the organisation, who had amassed huge wealth, were desperate to change the banned currency in their possession.

“The government’s move has not only ruined the financial health of the outfit, but also affected Maoist activities in general,” Yadav reportedly said in his statement to the police.

The organisation’s financial health was weakened by the demonetisation drive, so it was not in a position to carry out missions, he added.

He, however, supported the government’s move saying, “Personally, I am in favour of scrapping the high denomination notes.”

Yadav said the Maoists had now given up their so-called class struggle and mobilising the movement purely on caste lines.

“The outfit that used to safeguard the interests of the poor by carrying forward the struggle against the rich with feudal mindset was now focusing on how to amass money through extortions and other means. If this scenario prevails, Maoism will be history in the country,” he added.

The ‘Chalho zone commander’ of CPI (Maoist), who has been evading arrest for more than 11 years, was nabbed from Bilaspur village in Madanpur police station in Aurngabad district, when he was planning to sneak into Jharkhand with his subordinate Vishnudev Mistri.

He was wanted in about 50 cases in Aurangabad and Gaya districts.

Aurangabad superintendent of police Satya Prakash said his revelations on demonetisation were on expected lines. “We have launched campaign to thwart Maoists’ bid to use villagers to exchange the banned currency,” he said.