RANCHI: Notwithstanding the Covid pandemic, extremist violence in the state till November 2020 remained on a par with previous years, the statistics provided by the police said.
According to the statistics, violence linked to the banned outfit, People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI), increased significantly. Moreover, extremist-related murders stood at 26 till November 2020 as compared to 21 in 2019. Police said the murders were committed by the anti-nationals for different reasons, including internecine battles.
Further, the state witnessed 112 incidents of extremist violence till November 2020 compared to 117 and 108 in the corresponding period of 2019 and 2018 respectively. The Left-wing organisations were involved in 16 cases of arson, usually committed for extortion demands, compared to 23 each in 2019 and 2018.
Among the extremist organisations, CPI (Maoist) was involved in 51 violent incidents, which was seven less than last year while PLFI was indulged in 36 incidents, 14 more than last year. The activities of Tritya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC), however, declined.
Meanwhile, the operations against the extremists in 2020 were increased by almost one-half times than that of 2019, police said. One policeman was killed in the operations while 12 extremists were eliminated this year. In 2019, 14 policemen lost their lives while 27 extremists were neutralised in different operations.
Informing media persons about the operations, state DGP M V Rao said, “The operations against the extremists are continuing. No efforts will be spared to eradicate the menace of extremists from the state.” He added that the police are also looking into extortion demands made by PLFI in the recent past.
Jharkhand police spokesman and inspector general Saket Singh said, “The activities of CPI (Maoist) are now confined to small pockets in the state because of our efforts. The police also had encounters with the PLFI recently.” He added that 392 extremists, including 38 zonal commanders, sub-zonal commanders and area commanders were arrested while 12 extremists were killed so far this year.