Residents of Maoist-affected areas in Jharkhand accuse police of carrying out atrocities

Tweet

Latehar, Nov. 13: Residents of Maoist-affected areas in Jharkhand have been mobilised by Maoists to allege that security forces attack villagers and accuse them of having links with the ultras.

Security forces have recently set up a camp in Jharkhand’s Latehar District as part of the anti-Maoist operations.

Locals here, however, complained that the security forces have been attacking the villagers without any evidence.

“The police came to my house and took me away. They said that you are a sympathiser of Maoists; you have given rice to them and fed them. They are telling me like this. I did not do anything. The charges they levelled against me were not true. I wasn’t even at home that time. My son also did not tell me and they are hitting us saying that we are Maoists,” said Vipha Parhaiya, local.

People living in one of the worst Maoist-affected areas in the state also said that such cases of attacking the villagers are a day-to-day affair now.

Many said that they are picked up by the security forces, abused and beaten up for no fault.

“In our village, the police have set up a camp and ever since they have come they beat up the locals without even questioning them. There has been continuous beating up of the locals,” said Lilavati Devi, Village Head.

Others accused the security personnel of misbehaving with women.

State officials said that the matter would be considered and dealt with as soon as possible.

“Regarding this matter we have spoken to the Superintendent of Police and we have told him that he should stop such incidents. He said he would look into it. And they should keep in mind that the operation should be only against the Maoists and the public should not be affected by this operation,” said Baijnath Ram, Jharkhand Human Resource Development Minister.

Ram ensured that the anti-Maoist operation is only aimed at curbing activities carried out by the ultras.

According to analysts, the Maoists oppose all development activities such as the construction of roads, schools, hospitals, drip irrigation and drinking water facilities.

Contractors are killed, schools are torched, electric poles are pulled down and projects, which could lead to development, are halted.

For, if development comes to the area, Maoists fear that their support base will diminish.

The Maoist insurgency has gripped nearly one-third of the country, spreading into the interiors of 20 states of the country. (ANI)