Call for united war on rebels

OUR CORRESPONDENT
Jamshedpur, Sept. 19: From now on, the police and paramilitary forces would work in a more co-ordinated way to combat Naxalism in Kolhan and other areas.

Deputy inspector-general (DIG), Kolhan, Manoj Kumar Mishra announced this after a meeting of senior police officers held in the background of a spate of Naxalite-sponsored attacks in Seraikela-Kharsawan and East Singhbhum in the recent past.

Those who attended the meeting included superintendents of police of the twin districts of Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan, the commandants of the Central Reserve Police Force and the Jharkhand Armed Police and superintendent of railway police, Tatanagar.

The DIG pointed out that this was the first such meeting convened here and, from now on, the fight against Naxalism would be more effective.

He said the police, like all the other forces, have a common objective — to fight Naxalites. But a lack of proper co-ordination often resulted in failure to curb the menace.

“But I have decided to adopt a strategy, wherein all the forces, including the police and paramilitary would share information and logistics about Naxalites and work in tandem,” he said.

Mishra admitted that the Maoist influence had increased in the state, especially in Seraikela-Kharsawan, parts of East Singhbhum, Chandil-Chowka and along National Highway-33, over the past six months.

“We cannot kill Naxalites even when we spot a squad. We have to warn them and ask them to surrender. That is what we have been taught to do. But Naxalites have only one thing on their mind — to shoot at the sight of a policeman. The police are always a soft target for Naxalites. Still we have to work to curb the menace,” said the DIG.

Though he expressed satisfaction over the law and order situation in the steel city, the officer pointed out that Jamshedpur was a sensitive place and terrorist attacks could not be ruled out here.

“We will always have to be ready to face any eventuality in the steel city,” he said, adding that the lack of proper co-ordination between security forces could make the job of terrorists all the more easy.