Naxalites trying to spread ideology in Pune colleges: Cops

PUNE: The city police have appealed to principals and heads of city colleges and educational institutions to remain alert for possible spread of Naxalite ideology in their establishments, as certain Naxalite groups are working to spread their ideology among students.

Deputy commissioner of police (special branch) Makarand Ranade said this at a meeting with principals and directors of educational institutions. "We have asked them to immediately inform the police, if they suspect anyone involved in such activities," Ranade told TOI.

The meeting was held at the police commissionerate on Monday.

Ranade said the fact that Naxalite groups are targeting students is a very dangerous trend, especially when the city is considered to be an education hub and students for all over the country come to Pune for higher studies.

"Initially, these groups attempted spreading their ideology in important colleges in the heart of the city. However, they had to divert their attention to colleges in the outskirts as they did not receive expected response from the students of these colleges," Ranade said.

According to Ranade, the police suspect that the Naxalite groups are now targeting socially and economically backward students, who attend colleges in the outskirts.

The police said four such college students, who were allegedly inspired by the Naxalite ideology, have been missing for the last three years. "Two of them were students of a college in Yerawada," Ranade said.

The police suspect that these students are undergoing training from Naxalite groups or may have joined Naxalite 'dalams' to spread the ideology. "The police have information that these students came into contact with Naxalite ideology and had started working for Naxalite groups," Ranade said.

In April, the anti-terrorism squad had arrested six people, including a student of a city college, for their alleged Naxalite links. One of the suspects, Sidhartha Bhosale, who was arrested in Nashik, was doing his masters in economics.

According to the police, Bhosale, who hails from Ahmednagar, was living in a small, rented house in Bhagyodaynagar, Kondhwa. He was trained in Gadhchiroli by Naxalite groups and was assigned the task of recruiting youngsters from Pune and Nashik.