An allegation often levelled by non-governmental analysts of the Maoist (Naxalite)insurgency is that one of the causes for the spread of Maoist influence in thetribal areas of central India is the anger among the members of thedepressed classes due to their perception that the law and order machinery issought to be misused against them when they try to ventilate their grievancesagainst those exploiting them--whether they be rich land-lords, forestcontractors, money-lenders or the so-called upper caste Hindus. According tothem, it is this anger, which has over the years driven a large number oftribals into the waiting arms of the Maoists, who have been exploiting theiranger for organising a Maoist revolution in the tribal areas, in the hope ofthereby achieving political power through the barrel of the gun and notthrough the ballot box.