‘Media publishes what the police feeds’

Standing at six-feet-tall, PLFI chief Dinesh Gope is fluent in various regional languages and carries at least 35 mobilephones. He moves around with a convoy of motorcycle borne heavily armed gunmen.

In his first interview to a national daily, the PLFI chief answered several prickly questions:

Why do you kill the innocent?

We only kill anti-socials and those who exploit the poor and gullible. Rival and vigilant groups such as Shanti Sena operating with police patronage carry out such acts and put the blame on us. Media publishes what the police feeds. We are getting popular, hence people are exploiting our names. DINESH GOPE, PLFI chief

How is PLFI different from CPIMaoist?

We have a common ideology but we function differently. We do not make children pick up guns, they do. We build schools, they blow up schools; we enroll children in schools, they abduct children to replenish their armed squads and bal dastas (child squads).

Are guns and bloodshed the solution to any problem?

History speaks that without bloodshed, there has been no revolution. Guns are only a medium to bring about the desired change in society.

PLFI is full of contradictions. You claim you are anti-state but your leaders contest polls and occupy constitutional posts.

At times, you have to get into the system to understand it better.

Your strong political connections have prevented your arrest so far.

I am the state’s (politicians included) biggest enemy. Both politicians and police make huge money from the funds earmarked to arrest me.

PLFI collects huge amounts as levy. Where does the unaccounted money go?

Our accounts are audited and spent on the welfare of the organisation. The bulk of it goes on public welfare.

What future have you assured to the boys who have picked up arms for you?

They are born revolutionaries like me. They have not come for money or any gains. Together, we are sowing the seeds of that elusive society where the poor will have a voice.