KIRAN PANDAY

The Maoists say they don't want to return to the jungle but seem to have turned the capital city into a vigilante jungle instead. For the last 11 years, they've illegally arrested people and meted out severe penalties through their 'People's Courts' in the name of justice. And now they seem to be involved in vigilantism with constant donation terror drives, abduction and illegal arrests.

People have also been subject to brutal torture and death at the hands of the Maoists. They openly continue to beat up members of independent political parties. Even the loktantrik leaders now fear the trend could signal a comeback of the rampant violence and killings that were prevalent during the conflict.

The Maoists' active policing has reduced the role of the state police to that of a ceremonial force. Civilians have to plead with the Maoists to leave them alone.

Fear and trauma are rampant. The same Maoists who wield gun power are today saying that arms is not really a big issue. The truth is, it is the politics of guns that has brought about all kinds of failure-economic, political, diplomatic, and social.

In the last six months since the inception of the peace talks process, there have been over 356 abductions, 19 killings and countless incidents of physical abuse.
Arms will always be the obstacle to independent and democratic politics. So their management is important. It would be a laughing matter for any political party to think that they can hold nationwide elections until arms management is well taken care of.