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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | State wary of Bengal olive branch to rebels by Suman K Shrivastava & Nishit Dholabhai

State wary of Bengal olive branch to rebels by Suman K Shrivastava & Nishit Dholabhai

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published Published on Jul 31, 2011   modified Modified on Jul 31, 2011
Jharkhand is viewing with serious concern Mamata Banerjee government’s peace initiatives with Maoists in neighbouring Bengal, the apprehensions centred around a prevalent lull in anti-rebel operations that could lead to repercussions in a state that the Union home minister described as the epicentre of left wing extremism.

State DGP G.S. Rath believes the developments in Bengal, where peace moves have meant that anti-rebel operations have been reduced to routine patrolling by security forces, is worrisome for Jharkhand.

“Jharkhand once again becomes the major thrust area for Maoists. Though we do not have definite intelligence on this, we are apprehensive that Maoists will take shelter in Bengal after committing crimes in Jharkhand. Time will tell but we remain vigilant,” Rath told The Telegraph.

The DGP’s statement is in tune with the Centre which seems equally concerned, if not perturbed, at the possible impact of the Trinamul-Congress alliance government’s peace initiatives on neighbouring states like Jharkhand and Orissa.

“Once the Bengal government gets into talks, take it from us that the Maoists will keep you out of the Jangal Mahal area after mining it and then will have a corridor into Jharkhand,” said a source in the Union ministry of home affairs, referring to the rebels’ familiar strategy of extensively mining “liberated zones” like the forests of Abujhmadh, straddling Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, and Saranda in Jharkhand.

The Centre’s worries aren’t unfounded. Jangal Mahal in Bengal’s West Midnapore adjoins parts of Jharkhand like Ghatshila which are Maoist-affected. And West Midnapore is extremely important for both the rebels and security agencies alike since it forms Bengal’s tri-junction with Orissa and Jharkhand.

DGP Rath pointed out that the CRPF unit in Jharkhand had sought more forces for conducting operations that sources claimed could escalate, given that the state police headquarters had received information of a gradual influx of small groups of rebels in Jhumra and Lugu Pahadi in Bokaro district and Vishnugarh in Hazaribagh district.

A few units of the elite anti-Maoist forces CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), under-utilised in Bengal, have, therefore, been sent to Jharkhand.

“We can run operations against Naxalites more effectively now, but the lull on the other side of the border is a cause for concern. Though there has been no evidence of violence in the recent past, we are keeping up the pressure in areas bordering Bengal,” Rath added.

CRPF sources have confirmed that six teams, or 250 personnel in all, of the elite COBRA anti-Maoist force, part of the 207 battalion headquartered in Bengal, have been deployed in Bokaro and in areas bordering Bengal to run anti-insurgency operations.

The DGP said Jharkhand had asked for two Mi-17 helicopters to be used to ferry troops and supplies during the operations. “We are likely to get unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to step up surveillance in Maoist zones,” he said.

On Maoist violence in Jharkhand, the DGP cited figures to point out that this year had been better for the security forces. “There has been a reduction in incidents by 7.69 per cent from January to till now compared to the corresponding period last year. It’s a good beginning,” he said, but admitted that worrying signals remained.

“Civilians have been killed after branding them police informers and there have been few attacks on industrial set-ups. So, our main thrust is to isolate the rebels so that they are unable to collect levy and increase their support base,” Rath explained.

He said the Supreme Court’s order on Salwa Judum in Chhattisgarh would not impact operations in Jharkhand as the police had not set up armed special police officers (SPOs). But he spoke of another worry.

“Maoists are getting open support from various organisations representing intellectuals prisoners and even labourers that resort to any action to fight for their cause. This is a dangerous trend. We are keeping a watch on such organisations and documenting their activities,” he revealed.

The Telegraph, 31 July, 2011, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110731/jsp/frontpage/story_14312344.jsp


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