West Bengal govt challenges Maoists with a football match

10 October, 2012

Prime minister Manmohan Singh had once described Maoists as the biggest internal security threat to the nation. After several attempts failed to dissuade tribals from joining the rebels, the West Bengal government is now using football to bring peace to the Maoist-hit Purulia region.

DESPITE VARIOUS time-tested methods adopted by the West Bengal government, the Maoist problem is far from being resolved. But in a unique initiative, the state government recently held a mega soccer event in a bid to end the Maoist problem.

46 tribal women teams participated in the tournament held at Purulia in West Bengal. The initiative has been taken to boost the morale of the tribal girls and also explore their hidden skills and talent. These women primarily live in a constant fear of the Maoists and there are chances that they would give up everything and pick up a gun and join them. Theses are dangerous signs for the state.

Adesh Kumar, additional SP, Purulia, said in this ANI video, “Keeping in view the situation of the Purulia district, we need more and more support from the people. Organising such events and interacting with the people helps develop trust between us.” The police also need all kinds of help from the people, if they are to get rid of this kind of Maoist insurgency, which is bleeding the state.

With the crowd that had been gathered from nearby areas to watch the football competition, it definitely reflects people's interest. They are eager to overcome the challenges posed by the Maoists, as reported in the video, but the rebels are exploiting these youngsters by misleading them to take up arms.