Cue material: Maoist revolutionaries, known as Naxalites, have been causing increasing concern in several Indian states -- particularly West Bengal, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. Their name comes from Naxalbari, scene of an abortive peasant' uprising in West Bengal three years ago. The Macists, believing in violent revolution, owe allegiance to Chairman Mao Tse Tung, an specialise in acts of terrorism. From Calcutta Ronald Robson reports
SYNOPSIS: The Marxist Leninist Party of Communists, the most powerful group of Naxalites, has attracted many students to its ranks. The Calcutta University area here has more than once been turned into a battlefield.

There have been frequent attacks on educational institutions, and now police are allowed to enter these without prior approval of the heads of colleges or schools. Of course academic activity, and examinations have been seriously disrupted.

The naxalites have also attacked American libraries and cinemas showing films considered uncomplementary to China. They fight too with members of other parties including the Marxists
Their weapons also include now expertly cast grenade casings of military type - there wasn't one on hand to show you - and zip guns. They evidently believe the dictum of Mao, their idol, that power flows from the barrel of a gun
Their raids are carried out to quickly, often against unimportant targets, that police find it difficult to catch them. Members of the public and others are beginning to take a hand against the Naxalites.
One of the top leaders of the Marxist party Mr Jyoti Basu has firm views on them.
Well Marxists themselves have used bombs and other weapons for political purposes in West Bengal, and as a matter of fact the police have been cracking down on them too -- they've arrested more Marxists than Naxalites. But the Naxalites have spread the cult of Mao to all but two Indian states. They're said to number only 20,000. The Indian Government means to crush them.