Maoists have again resorted to a poster campaign, this time demanding an increase in the rates for kendu leaves. Posters were put up the interior of Mosabani block of the rebel-affected Ghatsila sub-division on Monday.
Around 10 posters were found pasted on house walls and trees at a village on Monday morning.
There was writing on the wall too, in support of their demand for more remuneration for kendu leaves sale in the current season of collection from the reserved forests.
"The area from where the posters were recovered is full of Maoists. They have pasted pictures and fled. Sometimes, they also force villagers to put up posters. We are taking steps to ensure there is no recurrence of such campaigning," said a police official.
The rebels left behind pamphlets containing their eight-point charter of demands including hike in the price of kendu leaf and proper remuneration for leaf pluckers, he said.
The rebels was the rate raised from Rs 60 per bundle to Rs 85 per bundle of kendu leaves. Through the posters, they have declared that the forest department will have to face the dire consequences, if their legitimate demand is not met.
A poster put up asked for "level-playing field" so that the villagers trading in kendu leaves can earn enough. Kendu traders said last year also the Naxalites had put up such posters following which the villagers had earned good return on their produce.
Meanwhile, the recovery of posters and pamphlets has also triggered panic among the villagers in Ghatshila. Deputy superintendent of police (law and order) Kanhayiya Upadhaya, who is also in charge of SDPO, Ghatshila said that the Maoists usually resort to posters just to instill fear amongst the villagers.
Sources informed that apart from wall painting, waging poster campaign is a regular feature in the naxal infested areas of Ghatshila.
The guerillas have been reported to conspiring to hamper peaceful life in the villages. A police official said that the ultras were trying to create tension among villagers so that they can disturb them.