The Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) issued death threats to five people, including journalists and activists accusing them of being pro-corporate and pro-government, reports Hindustan Times on February 14. The threat, issued on February 9, went viral on social media on February 13. The press note, titled “Patrkaar Evam Samaj Sevak Ke Aad Mein Corporate Gharano Kee Seva Mein Lage Farukh Ali Dalali Harqaton kee Ninda Karo...”, called for condemnation of ‘persons like Farukh Ali’ who, the press note alleged, were ‘serving the corporate families in the name of journalism and activism.’ “The corrupt and agents of corporate will surely be punished in the ‘jan adalat’ (kangaroo court),” claimed the press statement, purportedly issued by the southern sub-zonal bureau of CPI-Maoist. The note named former BBC journalist Shubhranshu Choudhary, journalists Ganesh Mishra and Leeladhar Rathi, anti-Maoist campaigners Farukh Ali and P Vijay as ‘corporate and government agents.
The Pioneeradds that on February 16, the journalists of Bastar region along with writers, social activists and others under the aegis of Bijapur Press Club, registered a strong protest against the open threat issued by the Maoists. In Bijapur District town, journalists took out bike a rally from Bijapur to the Ganglur region. “Threatening media personnel, political and social activists by CPI (Maoist) is an act of cowardice. It reflects creeping insanity in their rank file. Rattled by loss of public support and drying recruitment, Maoists are thoroughly confused and frustrated,” said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Sundarraj P. in a recorded video for the media.