Naxals killed and surrendered in Odisha

 

 

Naxals  killed  and surrendered  in Odisha

Dear Friends

1.     8.11.18, RTI Application was  submitted  to the PIO, office  of Director General of Police, Cuttack   seeking  information about (a)  total no. of death of  Maoists  from 2010 to 2018 , (b)  total no. of Maoists  surrendered  year-wise, (c)  Financial assistance  given  to each of  surrendered  Maoists  by Govt. of Odisha.  

 

2.     The PIO  denied  to supply  the  information on the  ground of  section 8(1) (a) and (g) of the RTI Act . The PIO has also further stated  that the holder  of the information is  Special Intelligence Wing ( SIW)  which is exempted  from  disclosure of  information under section 24  of the RTI Act as per  notification  No. PC-100/2005-29086 issued by  I and PR Department.  The  First Appellate  Authority  upheld  the  decision of the PIO and rejected  the  appeal petition.

 

3.     Then, Second Appeal was filed before the Commission. The  case  was registered  as SA No. 844/2019.

 

4.     It was  submitted  before the Commission counter  to  decision  of PIO and FAA  that It  is general  practice of the  police in charge  of anti-Maoist operation  that  the killing of Maoists  and surrender  of Maoists  including  their names  are  publicly  displayed  and presented  in media by  the  police to take credit.  News  about  such  declaration and  public display  was presented for   reference  of the  Commission during hearing of the case. From such  public display, the  people of the state  got  aware  about  achievement  of police  in checking  Maoist menace  in the state.  The media  also  glorified  the police  officers  and  they  were also awarded  huge  secret money  for  their  act of  killing  Maoists.

 

5.      It was  also submitted  that to award surrendered Maoists,  the  State Government has  framed  Scheme  for surrender  and rehabilitation of  Left Wing Extremists dt. 20.6.2006. As per point no. 2.2. of the said scheme, “ He  (  the surrendered maoist)  should make public statement of his voluntary surrender  through the media”.  The Govt. has made  series of  provision to award  financial assistance  to the  surrendered  Maoists.  This money is borne from state exchequer i.e., Tax-payers’ money.

 

6.     It was  also presented   that  the appellant  has   not  sought  the  name  of  the Maoists  who have been  killed  by  Odisha Police   and surrendered  rather  no. of  Maoists killed  by  the  police.  So it  is not  related  to section 8 (1)(g)  of the  RTI Act.

 

7.     It was also  submitted  that “the  information  sought for about  financial assistance  given  to each  surrendered  Maoists”   is not  related  to  any  personal  information and is no way  endanger  life and physical safety of any person.  The PIO has submitted that in the past the co-Maoists   have killed them who had surrendered before police.   This submission is totally false and unacceptable.  As per Govt. Rules, the Maoists will surrender publicly before the media.  Accordingly, whenever the Maoists express their interest to surrender, the police organize the press meet  for  public display. It has been done in several cases.  So  the  question of keeping their  name secret  does not  arise  as  it is already  in public domain ( google group ). I request commission to disclose name  of the maoists  who have  surrendered  and paid  financial package as  per  scheme.  

 

8.     The  disclosure  of this  information is crucial  as  to check  corruption  in distribution of financial assistance  to the  surrendered  maoists  by  the police. It has been  alleged  several times  that  the award  money  sanctioned  for awarding  is misappropriated and misused  by the  police personnel  in Malkangiri. In 2007 there was  allegation  of  misappropriation  of award  money  by  Mr. Satish Gajbhie, the  then SP  of Malkangiri  and disciplinary  proceedings  was initiated  against  him.  The mandate  of RTI  Act  is to check  corruption  in public office and pubic work.  This information sought  for  is having  same  objective  to fulfil mandate  of the  RTI Act.

 

9.     The PIO has  mentioned during hearing  of the case  that  the Special Operation Wing  comes  under  exempted category  of  organization which  is not  required  to  supply  the  information under RTI Act.  I objected  that though  the  information sought  for  relates  to Special Operation Wing , but  the said information is  also available  in the  DG police  and Department  of Home  as nodal  department  for  police personnel. As  this  matter  is sensitive  and  sensitive  issue ,  the  Govt. is having all information about  it  which  is also  presented  in the assembly.

 

10.                        As  the  financial assistance  is given  as per  scheme in order  to  provide  support  service  to surrendered  maoists to lead  good life, the citizens have right to know  about financial amount given to each maoist.

 

11.                         The  claim of PIO that  “the said information comes  under section 8 (1)(a)”  is bluff and no way related to  safety and security of nation.

 

Hearing  both the  sides, the  Commission directed  to supply  the  following  information without  disclosing  name of  the surrendered   Maoists .  On 19.4.23, the PIO has supplied the  following  information.

 

Total No. of Naxals killed and surrendered in Odisha

Year	Naxals killed	Naxals  surrendered
2010	12	44
2011	23	50
2012	10	35
2013	23	92
2014	6	99
2015	9	64
2016	39	31
2017	7	26
2018	19	27
Total	148	468

 

 

Abstract of funds provided for surrendered Naxalites

Year of Surrender	No.of Cases  in which Rehabilitation of benefits  provided	Amount provided ( In lakhs)
2010	25	54.82
2011	47	135.41
2012	30	82.74
2013	29	87.65
2014	37	115.00
2015	36	113.12
2016	24	68.14
2017	21	68.56
2018	17	49.76
Total	266	775.20

 

 

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date- 2.5.23