LWE-affected villages demand protection from Maoists after cops step up ops

Jamshedpur: After West Singhbhum police intensified its offensive against extremist organisations CPI (Maoists) and PLFI, residents of hamlets near Saranda forest demanded police protection fearing a backlash from the outfits. A delegation of various Left-wing extremism-affected villages on Friday submitted a written demand to Keraikela police for security arrangements.
On January 19 this year, seven villagers were killed in a clash between pro and anti-Pathalgarhi supporters in Burugulikera village under Gudri police station, following which, police intensified its anti-Maoist operations.
SP Indrajit Mahatha said, “Safety and security of villagers is paramount and we will examine their demand to see if there is a possibility of setting up police pickets at the earliest so that the confidence of the villagers on police remains unshaken.”
He added, “A proposal for setting up police pickets in LWE-affected villages under six police stations, Tebo, Goilkera, Toklo, Jaraikela, Majhgaon and Sonua , is presently under consideration.”
In the last few months, there have been exchanges of fire between extremists and security personnel at least 12 times. The gun battles resulted in six rebels being killed, while 23 others surrendered. Two policemen also lost their lives while a huge cache of explosives and firearms were recovered.
Mahatha added, “West Singhbhum is a vast district which requires at least 45 police stations for effective crime control, including curbing naxal activities. However, with just 25 stations and limited force, we are trying our best to serve the people.”
A 47-year-old resident of Jonua village of Keraikela on condition of anonymity said extremists suspect that villagers pass on information to police about their movement in the area. “Police camps will increase our confidence and reduce naxal movement in the area,” the villager said.