ORISSA, INDIA, February 4, 2008: (From Religious News Service) With a strong presence in Orissa state’s Kandhamal district, Maoists are suspected of using the recent violent events in the area to their advantage, recruiting Indians who are frustrated and hurt by the recent clashes between Hindus and Christian proselytizers.
Extreme Marxist groups, among them Maoists, may find affected areas “happy hunting grounds” for recruitment. Maoists normally recruit in areas in which state governments fail to deliver on promises and civil unrest reigns.
Violence in Kandhamal around Christians began in December, with an attack to local religious leader Swami Lakshamananda, as reported by HPI here.