Red terror returns to Jharkhand after poll pause
Three attacks in just over a week show that Maoist threat in Jharkhand is far from over.
In Short
- Three attacks in just over a week show that Maoist threat in Jharkhand is far from over
- On Sunday, an SSB jawan lost his life in an encounter between security forces and CPI (Maoist)
- On May 28, more than 11 jawans were injured when Maoists triggered an IED blast
Jharkhand continues to reel under Maoist militancy despite a lucrative surrender and rehabilitation policy. The efforts of state government does not seem to curb the Maoist menace.
In the wee hours of Sunday, a Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) jawan lost his life and four others were injured in an encounter between security forces and Communist Party of India (Maoist) in Dumka district.
At around 3.30 am on Sunday, Maoist guerrillas fired upon a joint team of SSM and local police personnel. In the encounter, five SSB personnel were hurt with Niraj Chetry succumbing to his injuries.
Five Maoists were also injured in the encounter. The militants retreated to the Taldangal forests.
This is the third encounter between Maoists and security forces in Jharkhand in just over a week.
On May 28, more than 11 jawans of a joint team of 209 CoBRA battalion and Jharkhand Police were injured when Maoists triggered an improvised explosive device. The incident happened in Saraikela Kharsawan.
The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action CoBRA is a specialised unit of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and has been tasked to tackle the Maoist problem.
On May 24, a day after Lok Sabha results were declared, Maoists triggered an IED blast that injured four jawans.
Elections were conducted in Jharkhand in four phases with the spectre of violence looming large. The Maoists had called for a boycott of polls.
Guns are booming again
However, the state administration and Election Commission had heaved a sigh of relief after the Lok Sabha polls passed off peacefully. Deployment of central paramilitary forces and Jharkhand Police with a definite plan foiled any untoward incident. Polling stations were dotted with high security and polling personnel were air dropped in sensitive areas.
The recently concluded Lok Sabha elections had generated a lot of hope that CPI (Maoist) had lost its grip and its strength was dwindling. However, back-to-back strikes by Maoists at Saraikela and Dumka has put the Jharkhand administration in a fix.
Back in the 1960s Maoists were driven by ideology and took to guns to fight feudalism and capitalism. However, over a period of time, the Marxist-Leninist ideology has been diluted and now Maoists flex their muscles.
Maoists have unleashed a reign of terror and mint by levying taxes. While the poor suffer because of lack of development, there are reports that children of CPI (Maoist) leaders pursue quality education and their families lead a lavish life.
Many had thought that with the surrender of dreaded Maoists Kundan Pahan, Nakul Yadav and Dhaneshwar Yadav the militants had lost their grip on Jharkhand. The reality is very different. The second-tier of Maoist leaders have kept the red flag flying over the state.
The government has to redouble its effort and intensify combing operations to bring back peace in Jharkhand.