Aurangabad (PTI): Suspected Maoists blasted dynamite on early Monday in a state-run school at Ketaki village in Bihar's Aurangabad district.
The police said more than 150 Maoist guerrilas raided the school and triggered dynamite blasts to blow up the school building.
But the school building was not damaged as the explosion was not powerful, sources said.
They took away a generator of the school before police reached the spot, sources said.
The ongoing school attacks by Maoists have been an attempt to foil administration's bid to house Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and other para-military forces in schools for deployment in Maoist-hit areas during Lok Sabha polls, police said.
Maoists have blasted two school buildings in Jamui and Gaya districts in Bihar recently.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Lalgarh tribal group warns of mass resistance
Special Correspondent
Police have not been able to enter Lalgarh for five months
Plan take out a procession here on Monday
KOLKATA: A local predominantly tribal resistance group of Lalgarh in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district — the “Police Santrosh Birodhi Janasadharan Committee (PSBJC)” [People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities] — threatened a “mass resistance” if the State government goes ahead with its plans to send the police into the Lalgarh area in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
“We have learnt our lesson from what happened in Nandigram [where police entered on March 14, 2007 resulting in firing and subsequent violence in which 14 persons were killed] and do not want to make the same mistake,” Chhatradhar Mahato, founder-leader of the PSBJC said here on Sunday.
“We shall resist any such police move at Lalgarh and if there is any untoward incident the administration will be responsible,” Mr. Mahato said .
His warning came a day after State’s Home Secretary Ardhendhu Sen said here that the government was working on a plan of police action that was to be finalised shortly to enable security forces to enter the Lalgarh prior to the elections.
The police have not been able to enter the Lalgarh for nearly five months since the PSBJC was set up early in November 2008 to protest alleged police excesses on local villagers during raids to arrest those responsible for an IED blast that narrowly missed Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s convoy on its way back from Salboni.
Mr. Mahato said elections could be held without the police at the Lalgarh and that poll officials were free to enter the area for the purpose unescorted by police personnel. The PSBJC will take out a procession here on Monday to protest against the government’s plans to facilitate police entry into the Lalgarh.
In a bid to prevent the police from entering the area, the PSBJC, which has the support of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), has set up “check-points” near Lalgarh on the road that connects it with Jhargram. These “check-points” are being manned round the clock by PSBJC activists.
Police have not been able to enter Lalgarh for five months
Plan take out a procession here on Monday
KOLKATA: A local predominantly tribal resistance group of Lalgarh in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district — the “Police Santrosh Birodhi Janasadharan Committee (PSBJC)” [People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities] — threatened a “mass resistance” if the State government goes ahead with its plans to send the police into the Lalgarh area in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
“We have learnt our lesson from what happened in Nandigram [where police entered on March 14, 2007 resulting in firing and subsequent violence in which 14 persons were killed] and do not want to make the same mistake,” Chhatradhar Mahato, founder-leader of the PSBJC said here on Sunday.
“We shall resist any such police move at Lalgarh and if there is any untoward incident the administration will be responsible,” Mr. Mahato said .
His warning came a day after State’s Home Secretary Ardhendhu Sen said here that the government was working on a plan of police action that was to be finalised shortly to enable security forces to enter the Lalgarh prior to the elections.
The police have not been able to enter the Lalgarh for nearly five months since the PSBJC was set up early in November 2008 to protest alleged police excesses on local villagers during raids to arrest those responsible for an IED blast that narrowly missed Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s convoy on its way back from Salboni.
Mr. Mahato said elections could be held without the police at the Lalgarh and that poll officials were free to enter the area for the purpose unescorted by police personnel. The PSBJC will take out a procession here on Monday to protest against the government’s plans to facilitate police entry into the Lalgarh.
In a bid to prevent the police from entering the area, the PSBJC, which has the support of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), has set up “check-points” near Lalgarh on the road that connects it with Jhargram. These “check-points” are being manned round the clock by PSBJC activists.
Maoists' strike Simlipal again
6 Apr 2009, 0423 hrs IST, TNN
BARIPADA: Peace continued to elude Simlipal with suspected Maoists going on the rampage inside the premier tiger reserve for the third time in a
week on Saturday.
Forest officials said a group of armed men looted and ransacked a forest rest house and a tourist complex at Jamuani in the Simlipal Tiger Reserve's Manda Range around Saturday midnight.
The attack came exactly eight days after Maoists went on a rampage at Chahala by setting fire to a forest rest house and assaulting tourists and officials.
Earlier on Saturday, another group claiming themselves to be Maoists had raided the forest range office at Pithabata. The suspected rebels took away two logs and pasted pro-Maoist posters in and around the range office. The posters warned forest officials of dire consequences if they did not quit Simlipal. The attackers also burst crackers in a bid to create a fear psychosis among the unarmed officials.
The forest department, however, suspects that the latest attacks were the handiwork of local poachers and members of the timber mafia. "The attackers appear to be emboldened by the previous Maoist attacks in Simlipal. They are trying to take advantage of the situation," a forest department official said on condition of anonymity.
The attacks coming just before the tribals' annual hunting ritual on the occasion Pana Shankranti has left animal lovers and conservationists a worried lot. They said the tribals armed with bows and arrows and hunting axes enter the reserve through hidden paths and indulge in indiscriminate killing of the animals as part of their ritual of "akhand shikar" (mass hunting excursion).
Conservationists said poachers may take advantage of the Maoist attacks to indulge in intensified hunting on Pana Shankranti day.
BARIPADA: Peace continued to elude Simlipal with suspected Maoists going on the rampage inside the premier tiger reserve for the third time in a
week on Saturday.
Forest officials said a group of armed men looted and ransacked a forest rest house and a tourist complex at Jamuani in the Simlipal Tiger Reserve's Manda Range around Saturday midnight.
The attack came exactly eight days after Maoists went on a rampage at Chahala by setting fire to a forest rest house and assaulting tourists and officials.
Earlier on Saturday, another group claiming themselves to be Maoists had raided the forest range office at Pithabata. The suspected rebels took away two logs and pasted pro-Maoist posters in and around the range office. The posters warned forest officials of dire consequences if they did not quit Simlipal. The attackers also burst crackers in a bid to create a fear psychosis among the unarmed officials.
The forest department, however, suspects that the latest attacks were the handiwork of local poachers and members of the timber mafia. "The attackers appear to be emboldened by the previous Maoist attacks in Simlipal. They are trying to take advantage of the situation," a forest department official said on condition of anonymity.
The attacks coming just before the tribals' annual hunting ritual on the occasion Pana Shankranti has left animal lovers and conservationists a worried lot. They said the tribals armed with bows and arrows and hunting axes enter the reserve through hidden paths and indulge in indiscriminate killing of the animals as part of their ritual of "akhand shikar" (mass hunting excursion).
Conservationists said poachers may take advantage of the Maoist attacks to indulge in intensified hunting on Pana Shankranti day.
Maoists kill four guards of power plant firm
Ranchi (IANS): Maoist rebels have killed four security guards of a proposed power plant of the Abhijeet group in Jharkhand's Latehar district, police said on Monday.
Around 20-25 guerrillas of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) raided the proposed power plant situated in Chakla village in Latehar, some 140 km from Ranchi, at around 11.30 p.m. on Sunday and opened fire on the security guards posted there, a police official said.
Three guards died on the spot and one died on the way to hospital. One injured guard has been referred to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science here for treatment.
According to informed sources, Maoist rebels had demanded a levy of Rs.2 million from the company. The Abhijeet group had apparently refused to pay the amount and guerrillas had even beaten up security guards of the firm a month ago.
"We had sought security from the police informing them about the levy demand. The temporary police picket situated near the proposed site was also withdrawn after the Lok Sabha elections were announced. The withdrawal of the police picket encouraged Maoist rebels to attack the company," an official of Abhijeet group told IANS.
Police have launched operations to nab the rebels involved in the incident.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) condemned the attack and demanded the removal of Governor Syed Sibte Razi.
"During President's Rule, such incidents are taking place in the state one after another. The central government should recall the governor to ensure free and fair election in the state,"said state BJP president Raghubar Das.
Around 20-25 guerrillas of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) raided the proposed power plant situated in Chakla village in Latehar, some 140 km from Ranchi, at around 11.30 p.m. on Sunday and opened fire on the security guards posted there, a police official said.
Three guards died on the spot and one died on the way to hospital. One injured guard has been referred to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science here for treatment.
According to informed sources, Maoist rebels had demanded a levy of Rs.2 million from the company. The Abhijeet group had apparently refused to pay the amount and guerrillas had even beaten up security guards of the firm a month ago.
"We had sought security from the police informing them about the levy demand. The temporary police picket situated near the proposed site was also withdrawn after the Lok Sabha elections were announced. The withdrawal of the police picket encouraged Maoist rebels to attack the company," an official of Abhijeet group told IANS.
Police have launched operations to nab the rebels involved in the incident.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) condemned the attack and demanded the removal of Governor Syed Sibte Razi.
"During President's Rule, such incidents are taking place in the state one after another. The central government should recall the governor to ensure free and fair election in the state,"said state BJP president Raghubar Das.
Maoists blow up school in Lohardaga
6 Apr 2009, 0407 hrs IST, Uttam Mukherjee, TNN
LOHARDAGA: About 40 members of the CPI(Maoist) blew up the Project High School at Makka village in the district in the wee hours of Sunday under the
leadership of their sub-zonal commander Sanjay Yadav.
The village is located on the borders of Lohardaga and Latehar districts. The incident appears to be a major challenge to the administration which is gearing up for the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 16. The Project High School is located less than a kilometre away from the village middle school where BSF personnel are camping these days.
SP Subodh Prasad said that the Maoists blew up the school in frustration as the police have sealed the entry points to the sensitive areas in the bordering areas of the district.
The Makka village was recently covered under the security net after the police learnt that the Maoists were planning to enter the village, the SP said, adding that the school building was partially damaged in the blast which the Maoists triggered during the night.
SDPO Ram Gulam Sharma said that only one room of the school building had been damaged in the explosion. Policing has been intensified in the area, he added.
Sources, however, claimed that the Maoists blew up both the old as well as the new school building in two separate blasts. The new building had been constructed recently at the cost of Rs 35 lakh.
LOHARDAGA: About 40 members of the CPI(Maoist) blew up the Project High School at Makka village in the district in the wee hours of Sunday under the
leadership of their sub-zonal commander Sanjay Yadav.
The village is located on the borders of Lohardaga and Latehar districts. The incident appears to be a major challenge to the administration which is gearing up for the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 16. The Project High School is located less than a kilometre away from the village middle school where BSF personnel are camping these days.
SP Subodh Prasad said that the Maoists blew up the school in frustration as the police have sealed the entry points to the sensitive areas in the bordering areas of the district.
The Makka village was recently covered under the security net after the police learnt that the Maoists were planning to enter the village, the SP said, adding that the school building was partially damaged in the blast which the Maoists triggered during the night.
SDPO Ram Gulam Sharma said that only one room of the school building had been damaged in the explosion. Policing has been intensified in the area, he added.
Sources, however, claimed that the Maoists blew up both the old as well as the new school building in two separate blasts. The new building had been constructed recently at the cost of Rs 35 lakh.
Maoist outfit expels leader for contesting polls
April 5th, 2009 - 1:02 pm ICT by IANS -
Patna, April 5 (IANS) An outlawed Maoist outfit has expelled one of its senior leaders in Bihar for contesting the Lok Sabha elections, defying the group’s poll boycott call.
Ranjan Yadav alias Dinkar-ji, a member of the Bihar-Jharkhand-Chhattisgarh special area committee of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), was expelled for contesting from Chatra constituency in neighbouring Jharkhand, a statement issued by the outfit said Sunday.
Yadav is contesting as an independent from Chatra, which is one of the worst hit by Maoist insurgency.
The CPI-Maoist has declared Yadav as an anti-revolutionary, who has nothing to do with the outfit.
The Maoist rebels had last month called for a boycott of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled in April-May.
The rebels have also directed their cadres to mobilise public support to boycott the polls.
A CPI-Maoist spokesman, identified only as Gopal, said in the statement that the government would deploy central paramilitary forces in large numbers to suppress the boycott call, “but we will give it a befitting reply this time”.
Bihar has sought four Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters from the central government for aerial surveillance, particularly in areas hit by Maoist insurgency, during the Lok Sabha elections.
Patna, April 5 (IANS) An outlawed Maoist outfit has expelled one of its senior leaders in Bihar for contesting the Lok Sabha elections, defying the group’s poll boycott call.
Ranjan Yadav alias Dinkar-ji, a member of the Bihar-Jharkhand-Chhattisgarh special area committee of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), was expelled for contesting from Chatra constituency in neighbouring Jharkhand, a statement issued by the outfit said Sunday.
Yadav is contesting as an independent from Chatra, which is one of the worst hit by Maoist insurgency.
The CPI-Maoist has declared Yadav as an anti-revolutionary, who has nothing to do with the outfit.
The Maoist rebels had last month called for a boycott of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled in April-May.
The rebels have also directed their cadres to mobilise public support to boycott the polls.
A CPI-Maoist spokesman, identified only as Gopal, said in the statement that the government would deploy central paramilitary forces in large numbers to suppress the boycott call, “but we will give it a befitting reply this time”.
Bihar has sought four Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters from the central government for aerial surveillance, particularly in areas hit by Maoist insurgency, during the Lok Sabha elections.
Cops sore over red den rallies
- Candidates ignore alerts, keep law-enforcers on tenterhooks
AMIT GUPTA
There was lack of activity at the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha office at Sarkar Building in Sakchi on Sunday. Campaigning is likely to pick up steam from Monday. Telegraph picture
Ranchi, April 5: State police have advised poll candidates not to venture out into far-flung Maoist-hit rural areas for campaigning without keeping them informed.
Apparently upset at a few instances of high-profile politicians and candidates venturing into Maoist dens in the rural hinterlands, the police are framing a strict advisory for poll nominees and have also decided to voice their concern with the Election Commission.
“This is very disturbing for us. There have been at least four to five instances when high-profile politicians who face a security risk ventured inside these areas without informing the local police,” said state police spokesperson Satya Narayan Pradhan, but refused to divulge who the leaders were.
“We have had to rush police teams at least four times after coming to know about the presence of these politicians in those areas,” he said, adding that all district superintendents of police had been asked to apprise candidates accordingly.
Maoist dens are understood to be primarily concentrated in Palamau, Chatra in the western part of Jharkhand, Giridih and parts of Koderma in the north and some areas of Singhbhum in the south.
Among those contesting from Palamau — some of whom may have begun campaigning — were JD(U)’s Radha Krishna Kishore, former BJP MP Brajmohan Ram (contesting as an Independent this time), MP Ghuram Ram and Kameshwar Baitha.
The Chatra nominees were former Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari (contesting as an Independent), RJD’s Nagmani, CPI(ML)’s Keshwar Yadav and Dhirendra Agarwal among others.
Camping in Naxalite-affected Chainpur block of the Palamau constituency, JD(U)’s Kishore disagreed it was dangerous for them to campaign in rural areas. “We do not see a problem in going to rural areas at least in the day time. We take precautions but we can’t afford to ignore far-flung rural areas while campaigning,” he told The Telegraph.
Over the years, several state politicians have been victims of ultra-Left terror. JMM’s former Jamshedpur MP Sunil Mahto, CPI(ML)’s former Bagoder MLA Mahendra Singh, and former Tamar MLA Ramesh Singh Munda, the son of former chief minister Babulal Marandi, were among those who had fallen to Maoist violence.
The killings happened both in far-flung rural areas as well as the suburbs — Munda was killed in Bundu even though he had armed bodyguards.
Pradhan said if the police had prior information about a politician’s plans, they could carry out a sanitisation drive to flush out criminals and Naxalite elements from the area.
In the run-up to the general elections — scheduled to take place in Jharkhand in two phases on April 16 and April 23 — Maoists gave enough hints that they might disturb the polling processes even though they haven’t issued a poll boycott call.
In fact, two former hardcore rebels were contesting elections this time. While Kameshwar Baitha was contesting on a JMM ticket from Palamau — he has over 55 criminal cases against him — CPI(ML) had fielded Keshwar Yadav, alias Ranjan Yadav, alias Dinkar, from Chatra — he faces over a dozen cases.
So far, Maoists have been making their presence felt fairly regularly.
In March, over 50 armed rebels blew up a village community centre in Bokaro district, barely 15km from where BJP MP Hema Malini addressed a public meeting the next day.
Moreover, a portion of a school building, a designated polling station, at Banalat village in Bishunpur in Gumla was blown up by powerful explosives.
AMIT GUPTA
There was lack of activity at the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha office at Sarkar Building in Sakchi on Sunday. Campaigning is likely to pick up steam from Monday. Telegraph picture
Ranchi, April 5: State police have advised poll candidates not to venture out into far-flung Maoist-hit rural areas for campaigning without keeping them informed.
Apparently upset at a few instances of high-profile politicians and candidates venturing into Maoist dens in the rural hinterlands, the police are framing a strict advisory for poll nominees and have also decided to voice their concern with the Election Commission.
“This is very disturbing for us. There have been at least four to five instances when high-profile politicians who face a security risk ventured inside these areas without informing the local police,” said state police spokesperson Satya Narayan Pradhan, but refused to divulge who the leaders were.
“We have had to rush police teams at least four times after coming to know about the presence of these politicians in those areas,” he said, adding that all district superintendents of police had been asked to apprise candidates accordingly.
Maoist dens are understood to be primarily concentrated in Palamau, Chatra in the western part of Jharkhand, Giridih and parts of Koderma in the north and some areas of Singhbhum in the south.
Among those contesting from Palamau — some of whom may have begun campaigning — were JD(U)’s Radha Krishna Kishore, former BJP MP Brajmohan Ram (contesting as an Independent this time), MP Ghuram Ram and Kameshwar Baitha.
The Chatra nominees were former Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari (contesting as an Independent), RJD’s Nagmani, CPI(ML)’s Keshwar Yadav and Dhirendra Agarwal among others.
Camping in Naxalite-affected Chainpur block of the Palamau constituency, JD(U)’s Kishore disagreed it was dangerous for them to campaign in rural areas. “We do not see a problem in going to rural areas at least in the day time. We take precautions but we can’t afford to ignore far-flung rural areas while campaigning,” he told The Telegraph.
Over the years, several state politicians have been victims of ultra-Left terror. JMM’s former Jamshedpur MP Sunil Mahto, CPI(ML)’s former Bagoder MLA Mahendra Singh, and former Tamar MLA Ramesh Singh Munda, the son of former chief minister Babulal Marandi, were among those who had fallen to Maoist violence.
The killings happened both in far-flung rural areas as well as the suburbs — Munda was killed in Bundu even though he had armed bodyguards.
Pradhan said if the police had prior information about a politician’s plans, they could carry out a sanitisation drive to flush out criminals and Naxalite elements from the area.
In the run-up to the general elections — scheduled to take place in Jharkhand in two phases on April 16 and April 23 — Maoists gave enough hints that they might disturb the polling processes even though they haven’t issued a poll boycott call.
In fact, two former hardcore rebels were contesting elections this time. While Kameshwar Baitha was contesting on a JMM ticket from Palamau — he has over 55 criminal cases against him — CPI(ML) had fielded Keshwar Yadav, alias Ranjan Yadav, alias Dinkar, from Chatra — he faces over a dozen cases.
So far, Maoists have been making their presence felt fairly regularly.
In March, over 50 armed rebels blew up a village community centre in Bokaro district, barely 15km from where BJP MP Hema Malini addressed a public meeting the next day.
Moreover, a portion of a school building, a designated polling station, at Banalat village in Bishunpur in Gumla was blown up by powerful explosives.
Media’s close encounter with top rebel
GAUTAM SARAKR
Jamui (Bihar), April 5: On April 2, Masterji, the CPI(Maoist)’s eastern Bihar and Jharkhand division committee commandant, spoke to a group of reporters, on their way to Jamui headquarters from Jasidih (Deoghar).
When the seemingly frail man clad in a dhoti and khaki half-shirt offered to guide the media men through the forest and Naxalite politics, most were sceptical.
But, the man promised that “all of you will enjoy my company, as I can give you information about Naxalites,” while stopping the group’s car near Chakai.
What followed was a riveting conversation regarding poll and police from the perspective of the Maoist top man. “We are not going to target any polling personnel this time, because they come from the middle-class. But, we will not allow police and higher officials in the area and will target possible poll centres such as schools,” he calmly told the reporters.
Masterji also informed that armed squad members have been assigned to conduct surveys of possible makeshift police camps in schools or other government buildings. Police, too, have noticed increased Maoist activity in the area.
On April 1, police spotted armed dastas (groups) of Maoists near Datuna-Kaluamaran area in Chandramandi falling under Simultala police station jurisdiction. “In Noubakadehi village Maoists quizzed villagers about the places where paramilitary forces were being put up. The area is quite near to Giridih Jharkhand,” said Sakadev Yadav, the officer in charge of Chandramandi station.
According to the officer in charge of Simultala PS, Rajeshwar Ram, the terrain makes it almost possible to track the dastas down. However, police did conduct raids late in the evening on April 1. Near Batiya they were nearly succesful, too.
“The police are searching for me, but I will join my group in the Batiya valley forests,” Masterji had told the reporters.
On March 29, a government school at Chormara village near Bhimbandh wildlife sanctuary, falling under the Barhet block, was blown up by the Maoists.
Jamui superintendent of police Binoy Kumar said the school was under police radar along with police stations and camp. However, it seems that police attention was not strict enough.
Last year, Maoists blew up a forest bungalow located near Chormara village. The bungalow was used as temporary camps for the paramilitary from time to time. In recent past the rebels also damaged a government resthouse at Mohonpur under Lakshmipur PS, a government high school at Banhara hamlet on the border of Munger and a resthouse of the irrigation department at Garhi under Khaira PS. All the buildings were used as makeshift camps for the paramilitary at some time.
“Schools are captured by the paramilitary who create nuisance for villagers in the adjoining area. What is the need for such buildings?” asked Masterji, who vanished into the dense forests right after reaching Batiya valley.
Jamui (Bihar), April 5: On April 2, Masterji, the CPI(Maoist)’s eastern Bihar and Jharkhand division committee commandant, spoke to a group of reporters, on their way to Jamui headquarters from Jasidih (Deoghar).
When the seemingly frail man clad in a dhoti and khaki half-shirt offered to guide the media men through the forest and Naxalite politics, most were sceptical.
But, the man promised that “all of you will enjoy my company, as I can give you information about Naxalites,” while stopping the group’s car near Chakai.
What followed was a riveting conversation regarding poll and police from the perspective of the Maoist top man. “We are not going to target any polling personnel this time, because they come from the middle-class. But, we will not allow police and higher officials in the area and will target possible poll centres such as schools,” he calmly told the reporters.
Masterji also informed that armed squad members have been assigned to conduct surveys of possible makeshift police camps in schools or other government buildings. Police, too, have noticed increased Maoist activity in the area.
On April 1, police spotted armed dastas (groups) of Maoists near Datuna-Kaluamaran area in Chandramandi falling under Simultala police station jurisdiction. “In Noubakadehi village Maoists quizzed villagers about the places where paramilitary forces were being put up. The area is quite near to Giridih Jharkhand,” said Sakadev Yadav, the officer in charge of Chandramandi station.
According to the officer in charge of Simultala PS, Rajeshwar Ram, the terrain makes it almost possible to track the dastas down. However, police did conduct raids late in the evening on April 1. Near Batiya they were nearly succesful, too.
“The police are searching for me, but I will join my group in the Batiya valley forests,” Masterji had told the reporters.
On March 29, a government school at Chormara village near Bhimbandh wildlife sanctuary, falling under the Barhet block, was blown up by the Maoists.
Jamui superintendent of police Binoy Kumar said the school was under police radar along with police stations and camp. However, it seems that police attention was not strict enough.
Last year, Maoists blew up a forest bungalow located near Chormara village. The bungalow was used as temporary camps for the paramilitary from time to time. In recent past the rebels also damaged a government resthouse at Mohonpur under Lakshmipur PS, a government high school at Banhara hamlet on the border of Munger and a resthouse of the irrigation department at Garhi under Khaira PS. All the buildings were used as makeshift camps for the paramilitary at some time.
“Schools are captured by the paramilitary who create nuisance for villagers in the adjoining area. What is the need for such buildings?” asked Masterji, who vanished into the dense forests right after reaching Batiya valley.
Treat jailed candidates as ordinary prisoners: EC
5 Apr 2009, 2223 hrs IST, TNN
VARANASI: Election Commissioner Navin Chawla said the candidates contesting the Parliamentary elections from jails should be treated like ordinary
prisoners as mentioned in jail manual.
Chawla was here on Sunday to review the preparations for the election in 13 districts going for polling in the first phase on April 16. He said jail superintendents were responsible for the implementation of jail manuals and to take decisions in the matters of prisoners. He said video tracking of musclemen, prominent leaders and star campaigners had already been started.
He said the EC was in the favour of zero tolerance in the cases of violation of the model code of conduct. He denied that the EC had any report regarding postings of tainted policemen and administrative officials in Varanasi. He was satisfied with the preparations of elections in all the 13 districts. He said sufficient forces were being provided to all the districts while chopper would also be given to Sonebhadra for aerial monitoring of difficult terrain of this Naxal-affected area. He said borders of all those districts would remain sealed.
Chawla made it clear that those voters, who could not have succeeded in getting their election photo identity cards, would be allowed to vote with the help of identity proof used in past elections. He cautioned the dummy candidates to quit the electoral field, otherwise their expenditure would be added to the account of main candidates.
He said exercises like communication plan, vulnerability mapping had been completed. He said despite strict instructions, political activities, especially door-to-door canvassing by candidates, used to increase two days before electioneering. He said the district magistrates and police chiefs had been asked to increase patrolling
VARANASI: Election Commissioner Navin Chawla said the candidates contesting the Parliamentary elections from jails should be treated like ordinary
prisoners as mentioned in jail manual.
Chawla was here on Sunday to review the preparations for the election in 13 districts going for polling in the first phase on April 16. He said jail superintendents were responsible for the implementation of jail manuals and to take decisions in the matters of prisoners. He said video tracking of musclemen, prominent leaders and star campaigners had already been started.
He said the EC was in the favour of zero tolerance in the cases of violation of the model code of conduct. He denied that the EC had any report regarding postings of tainted policemen and administrative officials in Varanasi. He was satisfied with the preparations of elections in all the 13 districts. He said sufficient forces were being provided to all the districts while chopper would also be given to Sonebhadra for aerial monitoring of difficult terrain of this Naxal-affected area. He said borders of all those districts would remain sealed.
Chawla made it clear that those voters, who could not have succeeded in getting their election photo identity cards, would be allowed to vote with the help of identity proof used in past elections. He cautioned the dummy candidates to quit the electoral field, otherwise their expenditure would be added to the account of main candidates.
He said exercises like communication plan, vulnerability mapping had been completed. He said despite strict instructions, political activities, especially door-to-door canvassing by candidates, used to increase two days before electioneering. He said the district magistrates and police chiefs had been asked to increase patrolling
Saturday, April 04, 2009
CRPF vehicle damaged in landmine blast
5 Apr 2009, 0029 hrs IST, TNN
RANCHI: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicle was badly damaged in a landmine blast suspected to be triggered by Maoists at a forest area
near Bareni village in Jharkhand's Latehar district on Saturday.
The vehicle was ferrying luggage of CRPF personnel who were returning to their base after handing over charge to Border Security Force (BSF) personnel for poll duty.
Jharkhand police spokesperson Inspector General S N Pradhan said the CRPF personnel had a miraculous escape as they were walking beside the vehicle when the rebels triggered the landmine blast.
"The front portion of the vehicle was damaged and the driver suffered minor injuries. Intensive combing operations have been launched to flush out the ultras involved in the incident. The group of Maoists may also disrupt the polls," Pradhan said.
RANCHI: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicle was badly damaged in a landmine blast suspected to be triggered by Maoists at a forest area
near Bareni village in Jharkhand's Latehar district on Saturday.
The vehicle was ferrying luggage of CRPF personnel who were returning to their base after handing over charge to Border Security Force (BSF) personnel for poll duty.
Jharkhand police spokesperson Inspector General S N Pradhan said the CRPF personnel had a miraculous escape as they were walking beside the vehicle when the rebels triggered the landmine blast.
"The front portion of the vehicle was damaged and the driver suffered minor injuries. Intensive combing operations have been launched to flush out the ultras involved in the incident. The group of Maoists may also disrupt the polls," Pradhan said.
Naxalite surrenders after being charged with murder
RAJNAGAR, April 4: A 67-year-old Naxalite leader, Mr Horibol Mal, surrendered today in Rajnagar police station. Mr Mal is under suspicion of involvement in the murder of a CPM leader. Police have been searching for the Naxalite leader for the past six months.
Today, nearly 100 CPI-ML supporters - led by the district secretary Mr Sailen Mishra - agitated in front of Rajnagar police station, alleging that police have labeled their old party leader as a Maoist, following a directive from the CPM leadership.
“Today, our old leader, who is a cardiac and diabetic patient, was forced to surrender as police started torturing residents of Kushbani village from where he hails. Police have ridiculously labeled him a Maoist and claimed he was involved in the murder of a CPM leader, Nandalal Mistri, on 22 September, 2008. Today, we agitated in front of the police station against this unruly and ridiculous step by police. They are operating under the direction of CPM leaders,” Mr Sailen Mishra, district secretary of the CPI-ML, said.
Three months ago, police arrested Sainik Mal, son of Horibol, from his residence, on suspicion of his being a Maoist. According to police, the Naxalite cadre was wanted in the Nandalal Mistri case. Nandalal, a CPM leader, was shot dead - allegedly by Maoists - in Rajnagar, six months ago. Surprisingly, Horibol Mal's name was not included in the FIR registered in the case. SNS
Today, nearly 100 CPI-ML supporters - led by the district secretary Mr Sailen Mishra - agitated in front of Rajnagar police station, alleging that police have labeled their old party leader as a Maoist, following a directive from the CPM leadership.
“Today, our old leader, who is a cardiac and diabetic patient, was forced to surrender as police started torturing residents of Kushbani village from where he hails. Police have ridiculously labeled him a Maoist and claimed he was involved in the murder of a CPM leader, Nandalal Mistri, on 22 September, 2008. Today, we agitated in front of the police station against this unruly and ridiculous step by police. They are operating under the direction of CPM leaders,” Mr Sailen Mishra, district secretary of the CPI-ML, said.
Three months ago, police arrested Sainik Mal, son of Horibol, from his residence, on suspicion of his being a Maoist. According to police, the Naxalite cadre was wanted in the Nandalal Mistri case. Nandalal, a CPM leader, was shot dead - allegedly by Maoists - in Rajnagar, six months ago. Surprisingly, Horibol Mal's name was not included in the FIR registered in the case. SNS
Maoists loot Rs 99 lakh from security van
Tags: Malkangiri (Orissa)
Published by: Noor Khan
Published: Sat, 04 Apr 2009 at 20:16
Malkangiri (Orissa), Apr 4 : Staging a daring loot, armed Maoists robbed Rs 99 lakh from a van transporting the cash from one branch of State Bank of India to another in Orissa's naxal-dominated Malkangiri district today.
Malkangiri superintendent of police Satyabrata Bhoi said more than 12 armed ultras stopped the van carrying the money and ordered its occupants to get down.
"They beat up the occupants including the security men and took away the cash box", he said.
The looters disappeared into the near by forest area, police said, adding, that a hunt is on to nab them.
Published by: Noor Khan
Published: Sat, 04 Apr 2009 at 20:16
Malkangiri (Orissa), Apr 4 : Staging a daring loot, armed Maoists robbed Rs 99 lakh from a van transporting the cash from one branch of State Bank of India to another in Orissa's naxal-dominated Malkangiri district today.
Malkangiri superintendent of police Satyabrata Bhoi said more than 12 armed ultras stopped the van carrying the money and ordered its occupants to get down.
"They beat up the occupants including the security men and took away the cash box", he said.
The looters disappeared into the near by forest area, police said, adding, that a hunt is on to nab them.
50 polling vehicles to have GPS tracking
5 Apr 2009, 0348 hrs IST, Soumittra S Bose, TNN
NAGPUR: Gadchiroli district administration, fearing Naxal interference in the polling process, is planning to ensure that maximum vehicles operating
in the highly-sensitive zones are equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS). District collector Atul Patne, also the returning officer, is planning to ensure a fleet of 50 vehicles with GPS facility during the polling period, especially those operating from the base camps which would be earmarked as highly vulnerable.
Apart from 15 GPS sets already present for the land measurement, the district administration aims at bringing in the ones that are in use in the police department. “There could be situations where the polling vehicles may come under siege or are hijacked. We should be in a position to know the location of such vehicles in case any untoward incident takes place,” said Patne. Patne is also planning to request police department to ensure their wireless communication system is extended to the 56 booths of the remote areas where connectivity is almost non-existent.
The plan of the district administration may, however, face some technical hurdles. “The efficiency of the tracking system depends on mobile phone signal connectivity. In remote areas, the GPS plan may face some hiccups as GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) may not work without mobile phone connectivity. Though GPRS is not the only option for the GPS to work, it is considered to be cheaper than other means,” said a senior police official.
Meanwhile, Patne said a decision has been taken to relocate around 15 polling booths in some of the heavily-affected villages where Naxal presence may pose a serious challenge to polling. An additional polling booth has been also decided to be set up at Charwahi in Gadchiroli to ensure that the villagers do not have to travel far to cast their ballot. The numbers of polling booths in the Gandchiroli-Chimur constituency would now be 839. There is also a plan to send polling parties through helicopters to sensitive polling stations.
Patne, who is to call for a co-ordination meeting of the senior officials of the police and district administration on April 6 next week, has complained of hardship to get the required numbers of vehicles needed for polling duty.
“I hope government vehicles would be available for Nasik and Marathwada divisions where election is in the later phase,” said Patne, who is also planning to open up to the option of inducting private vehicles for the polling duty too.
NAGPUR: Gadchiroli district administration, fearing Naxal interference in the polling process, is planning to ensure that maximum vehicles operating
in the highly-sensitive zones are equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS). District collector Atul Patne, also the returning officer, is planning to ensure a fleet of 50 vehicles with GPS facility during the polling period, especially those operating from the base camps which would be earmarked as highly vulnerable.
Apart from 15 GPS sets already present for the land measurement, the district administration aims at bringing in the ones that are in use in the police department. “There could be situations where the polling vehicles may come under siege or are hijacked. We should be in a position to know the location of such vehicles in case any untoward incident takes place,” said Patne. Patne is also planning to request police department to ensure their wireless communication system is extended to the 56 booths of the remote areas where connectivity is almost non-existent.
The plan of the district administration may, however, face some technical hurdles. “The efficiency of the tracking system depends on mobile phone signal connectivity. In remote areas, the GPS plan may face some hiccups as GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) may not work without mobile phone connectivity. Though GPRS is not the only option for the GPS to work, it is considered to be cheaper than other means,” said a senior police official.
Meanwhile, Patne said a decision has been taken to relocate around 15 polling booths in some of the heavily-affected villages where Naxal presence may pose a serious challenge to polling. An additional polling booth has been also decided to be set up at Charwahi in Gadchiroli to ensure that the villagers do not have to travel far to cast their ballot. The numbers of polling booths in the Gandchiroli-Chimur constituency would now be 839. There is also a plan to send polling parties through helicopters to sensitive polling stations.
Patne, who is to call for a co-ordination meeting of the senior officials of the police and district administration on April 6 next week, has complained of hardship to get the required numbers of vehicles needed for polling duty.
“I hope government vehicles would be available for Nasik and Marathwada divisions where election is in the later phase,” said Patne, who is also planning to open up to the option of inducting private vehicles for the polling duty too.
Simply Red - Something Got Me Started (long version remix)
Something Got Me Started live by Simply Red at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Simply Red's new live DVD, filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in London during a sold-out 6-night residency Spring 2007
Simply Red - Something Got Me Started (long version remix
simply red live in sicily - Something got me started.
Simply Red - Something Got Me Started (long version remix
simply red live in sicily - Something got me started.
Jail official held for assaulting IAS officer
4 Apr 2009, 0201 hrs IST, Amitabh Tiwari, TNN
RAIPUR: A young IAS officer on a snap inspection of a central jail in Chhattisgarh was assaulted by its superintendent who was annoyed by the sudden
intrusion.
Sources said P Dayanand, who is holding the additional charge of sub-divisional officer (SDO), was inspecting the Ambikapur central jail following complaints of irregularities. He found many banned articles like mobile phones and weapons inside the jail premises.
The SDO soon summoned jail superintendent Rajendra Gayakwad, who at that time was on a video-conference with his superiors. Dayanand then asked him to open the prison's chest for inspection. However, the superintendent refused.
After a heated exchange, Gayakwad assaulted the SDO. But the jail superintendent was overpowered and arrested by police personnel accompanying Dayanand. Soon DM Rohit Yadav and SP H K Rathore reached the jail.
But by that time, the jail inmates had gathered and started raising slogans against the district administration. They were pacified by CRPF and CISF jawans deployed in the state to control Maoists.
Ambikapur SP Rathore told TOI that the recovery of mobile phones and weapons was "disturbing'' in view of past incidents of jailbreaks in Chhattisgarh. As many as 1,534 inmates, including about 60 hardcore Maoists, are lodged in Ambikapur prison. Several serious incidents have taken place in the jail in the past.
One of the biggest-ever jailbreaks in India had taken place in Dantewada jail on December 16, 2007, when 299 inmates, including more than 105 Maoists and their sympathisers had fled. Inmates have also fled from Jashpur, Surguja and Surajpur and Durg jails.
According to a senior jail officer, the department drew up schemes to install jammers to prevent use of mobile phones. But so far, jammers have not been installed even in big jails where hardcore Maoists are lodged, he said.
RAIPUR: A young IAS officer on a snap inspection of a central jail in Chhattisgarh was assaulted by its superintendent who was annoyed by the sudden
intrusion.
Sources said P Dayanand, who is holding the additional charge of sub-divisional officer (SDO), was inspecting the Ambikapur central jail following complaints of irregularities. He found many banned articles like mobile phones and weapons inside the jail premises.
The SDO soon summoned jail superintendent Rajendra Gayakwad, who at that time was on a video-conference with his superiors. Dayanand then asked him to open the prison's chest for inspection. However, the superintendent refused.
After a heated exchange, Gayakwad assaulted the SDO. But the jail superintendent was overpowered and arrested by police personnel accompanying Dayanand. Soon DM Rohit Yadav and SP H K Rathore reached the jail.
But by that time, the jail inmates had gathered and started raising slogans against the district administration. They were pacified by CRPF and CISF jawans deployed in the state to control Maoists.
Ambikapur SP Rathore told TOI that the recovery of mobile phones and weapons was "disturbing'' in view of past incidents of jailbreaks in Chhattisgarh. As many as 1,534 inmates, including about 60 hardcore Maoists, are lodged in Ambikapur prison. Several serious incidents have taken place in the jail in the past.
One of the biggest-ever jailbreaks in India had taken place in Dantewada jail on December 16, 2007, when 299 inmates, including more than 105 Maoists and their sympathisers had fled. Inmates have also fled from Jashpur, Surguja and Surajpur and Durg jails.
According to a senior jail officer, the department drew up schemes to install jammers to prevent use of mobile phones. But so far, jammers have not been installed even in big jails where hardcore Maoists are lodged, he said.
Maoists target CRPF vehcile
Published: April 4,2009
Latehar (Jharkhand), Apr 4 A CRPF vehicle was damaged when it came in contact with a landmine planted by suspected Maoists at Bareni in Latehar today. No one is injured in the blast.
Superintendent of Police Ravikant Dhan told reporters that driver of the vehicle, which was transporting the luggage of the security personnel, escaped unhurt when it came in contact with the landmine which was placed under a culvert.
The front portion of the vehicle was damaged in the blast, he said.
Besides the driver, there was no other occupant in the vehicle at the time of the blast, police said.
Source: PTI
Latehar (Jharkhand), Apr 4 A CRPF vehicle was damaged when it came in contact with a landmine planted by suspected Maoists at Bareni in Latehar today. No one is injured in the blast.
Superintendent of Police Ravikant Dhan told reporters that driver of the vehicle, which was transporting the luggage of the security personnel, escaped unhurt when it came in contact with the landmine which was placed under a culvert.
The front portion of the vehicle was damaged in the blast, he said.
Besides the driver, there was no other occupant in the vehicle at the time of the blast, police said.
Source: PTI
Maoists warn against temple inauguration
Express News Service First Published : 04 Apr 2009 11:22:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 04 Apr 2009 02:00:50 PM IST
BERHAMPUR: After the poll boycott call in Kandhamal district, the Maoists have gone a step further to terrify the people and pasted posters opposing inauguration of Jagannath temple at Kotgarh under Baliguda police limits. The temple is scheduled to be opened from April 26.
They also listed the names of 11 locals who would be facing the fate of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati. Some locals informed the police who seized the posters.
Meanwhile Sunil, secretary, CPI(ML), Orissa State Organisational Committee in a press release criticised the police administration. In a letter he stated that on March 24 Rita Pal alias Rinki was killed by police at Kerubadi in Daringibadi block.
The release further stated that the Maoists were addressing a public meeting when police opened fire. To save the innocent public, Maoists instead of retaliating returned back into the forest. In the process Rinki was killed and two rifles were seized by police. ‘‘The claims of the police that we used people as a shield is false,’’ Sunil further claimed in the release.
BERHAMPUR: After the poll boycott call in Kandhamal district, the Maoists have gone a step further to terrify the people and pasted posters opposing inauguration of Jagannath temple at Kotgarh under Baliguda police limits. The temple is scheduled to be opened from April 26.
They also listed the names of 11 locals who would be facing the fate of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati. Some locals informed the police who seized the posters.
Meanwhile Sunil, secretary, CPI(ML), Orissa State Organisational Committee in a press release criticised the police administration. In a letter he stated that on March 24 Rita Pal alias Rinki was killed by police at Kerubadi in Daringibadi block.
The release further stated that the Maoists were addressing a public meeting when police opened fire. To save the innocent public, Maoists instead of retaliating returned back into the forest. In the process Rinki was killed and two rifles were seized by police. ‘‘The claims of the police that we used people as a shield is false,’’ Sunil further claimed in the release.
Maoists blow up cellphone towers in Orissa
4 Apr 2009, 1252 hrs IST, PTI
MALKANGIRI (Orissa): Maoist ultras blew up two signal towers of a mobile phone service provider in Orissa's Malkangiri district, police said on
Saturday.
The towers were destroyed by the ultras using explosives at Kangrukunda and MPV-22 under Kalimela police station, about 30 km from here yesterday.
Large quantities of cables kept near the structure were also set ablaze by the Maoists, they said adding that the ultras are against spread of telephone network in the region as it facilitates sharing information with the police.
The Maoists feel that telephones, including mobile ones, enable police informers to pass on information about the movement and activities of the ultras, sources said.
Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Satyabrata Bhoi said though the police were yet to receive any formal complaint about the incident, it was aware of the attack and necessary steps were being taken.
MALKANGIRI (Orissa): Maoist ultras blew up two signal towers of a mobile phone service provider in Orissa's Malkangiri district, police said on
Saturday.
The towers were destroyed by the ultras using explosives at Kangrukunda and MPV-22 under Kalimela police station, about 30 km from here yesterday.
Large quantities of cables kept near the structure were also set ablaze by the Maoists, they said adding that the ultras are against spread of telephone network in the region as it facilitates sharing information with the police.
The Maoists feel that telephones, including mobile ones, enable police informers to pass on information about the movement and activities of the ultras, sources said.
Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Satyabrata Bhoi said though the police were yet to receive any formal complaint about the incident, it was aware of the attack and necessary steps were being taken.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Security upped along borders
BALARAMPUR (Purulia), April 3: Security has been tightened, even in the remote areas of bordering West Bengal and Jharkhand. Following intelligence inputs, the Centre has asked the state government to provide extra security to important political leaders under the high threat perception category during their campaigns for the 15th general election.
Intelligence inputs have also suggested that terrorists may strike during poll rallies addressed by the protected persons.
The Maoist infestation in Purulia, already a serious threat, appears to be worsening. About two weeks ago, the office of a brick kiln owner was set on fire by the Maoists. Around the same time, Maoists set the same man's truck on fire after setting off a landmine at Kerua-Ghatbera in Balarampur, 53 km from Purulia town. They were demanding an increase in the pay of daily mazdoors in the brick field.
A few days back, a gang of armed Maoists fired at four jawans of the Railway Protection Force at Barabhum rail station in Balarampur, in the same thana areas of Purulia district. Of the jawans, two died at Bokaro Hospital following the attack. The Maoists had decamped, taking arms and ammunition from the jawans. The jawans had cash at the time of attack, but cash does not appear to have been the Maoist target, and was untouched.
n Nani Gopal Pal
Intelligence inputs have also suggested that terrorists may strike during poll rallies addressed by the protected persons.
The Maoist infestation in Purulia, already a serious threat, appears to be worsening. About two weeks ago, the office of a brick kiln owner was set on fire by the Maoists. Around the same time, Maoists set the same man's truck on fire after setting off a landmine at Kerua-Ghatbera in Balarampur, 53 km from Purulia town. They were demanding an increase in the pay of daily mazdoors in the brick field.
A few days back, a gang of armed Maoists fired at four jawans of the Railway Protection Force at Barabhum rail station in Balarampur, in the same thana areas of Purulia district. Of the jawans, two died at Bokaro Hospital following the attack. The Maoists had decamped, taking arms and ammunition from the jawans. The jawans had cash at the time of attack, but cash does not appear to have been the Maoist target, and was untouched.
n Nani Gopal Pal
Maoists blow up BJP leader's house in Jharkhand
2 Apr 2009, 1212 hrs IST, PTI
CHATRA (JHARKHAND): The Maoists have blown up three structures, including the house of a local BJP leader, in Chatra's Moktama village, the police
said on Thursday.
About 50 armed Maoists reached the village late Wednesday night, asked family members of the BJP leader Mahendra Yadav to vacate the house and blew it up with dynamites, Assistant Superintendent of Police Jatin Narwal.
Yadav was not present in the house during the attack. The group latter destroyed the village panchayat hall and an anganwadi centre with explosives, Narwal said.
There was no loss of life in any of the incidents. A Maoist note pasted on the walls in the village claimed responsibility of the explosions.
CHATRA (JHARKHAND): The Maoists have blown up three structures, including the house of a local BJP leader, in Chatra's Moktama village, the police
said on Thursday.
About 50 armed Maoists reached the village late Wednesday night, asked family members of the BJP leader Mahendra Yadav to vacate the house and blew it up with dynamites, Assistant Superintendent of Police Jatin Narwal.
Yadav was not present in the house during the attack. The group latter destroyed the village panchayat hall and an anganwadi centre with explosives, Narwal said.
There was no loss of life in any of the incidents. A Maoist note pasted on the walls in the village claimed responsibility of the explosions.
BJP vows to neutralize terrorists
Tags: Malkangiri (Orissa)
Published by: Deepak Rana
Published: Thu, 02 Apr 2009
Malkangiri (Orissa), Apr 2 : Accusing the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre of failing to contain terrorism, BJP president Rajnath Singh today asserted that the NDA, if voted to power, would eliminate terrorists.
"UPA government has failed miserably on all fronts, particularly in controlling terrorism and price rise, causing enormous hardship to the people," Singh said while launching BJP's poll campaign in Orissa's Maoist-infested Malkangiri district.
Noting that the previous government headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee had effectively curbed terrorism, he said the activities of terrorists and naxalites would be dealt with a firm hand if BJP-led NDA regained power at the Centre.
Attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the BJP stalwart said the UPA government was being controlled by Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
Published by: Deepak Rana
Published: Thu, 02 Apr 2009
Malkangiri (Orissa), Apr 2 : Accusing the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre of failing to contain terrorism, BJP president Rajnath Singh today asserted that the NDA, if voted to power, would eliminate terrorists.
"UPA government has failed miserably on all fronts, particularly in controlling terrorism and price rise, causing enormous hardship to the people," Singh said while launching BJP's poll campaign in Orissa's Maoist-infested Malkangiri district.
Noting that the previous government headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee had effectively curbed terrorism, he said the activities of terrorists and naxalites would be dealt with a firm hand if BJP-led NDA regained power at the Centre.
Attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the BJP stalwart said the UPA government was being controlled by Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
“Another Major Attack in India Inevitable”
Date Submitted: Thu Apr 02, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. - India faces the threat of another major terror attack after the audacious 26/11 Mumbai strikes with the “jihadist insurgency” intensifying along the western border and Pakistan seemingly losing control of its militant proxies, a leading US think tank has warned.
India already has “an array of militant threats” to deal with, ranging from Naxalites to northeastern insurgents to Kashmiri militants, Stratfor said in its latest analysis.
“Given the jihadist insurgency also intensifying along India’s western frontier and Pakistan seemingly losing control of its militant proxies, another major Islamist attack in India is inevitable,” it said.
“Regardless of whether the upcoming elections go off without a hitch, this is a reality Indian policymakers and security agencies will face for the foreseeable future,” the think tank said.
The Mumbai attacks last year, it said, had “exposed Indian security forces’ lack of preparedness and coordination.”
“The government responded to the (26/11) attack by announcing a slew of security reforms and by coordinating more closely with intelligence liaisons in London and Washington to improve Indian security practices and enhance intelligence sharing across state and national lines,” Stratfor said.
However, many of the “same critical flaws” in the security apparatus, including lack of money, manpower and management skills, remain, it said.
“The nature of India’s glacial-paced bureaucracy will greatly hinder New Delhi’s ability to overhaul the country’s internal security network effectively,” Stratfor said.
The Indian security apparatus, it said, “is already bracing itself for another major attack.”
Shifting the IPL tournament to South Africa gives the Indians more forces to secure the country for the national elections, “but this does not necessarily mean that the threat level during this time period has subsided,” it warned.
“The elections still provide Pakistani-based and indigenous Indian militants a good occasion to target politicians, government buildings, and voting booths — to say nothing of the usual soft targets like crowded marketplaces, movie theaters, hotels or religious sites,” the think tank said. (PTI)
WASHINGTON, D.C. - India faces the threat of another major terror attack after the audacious 26/11 Mumbai strikes with the “jihadist insurgency” intensifying along the western border and Pakistan seemingly losing control of its militant proxies, a leading US think tank has warned.
India already has “an array of militant threats” to deal with, ranging from Naxalites to northeastern insurgents to Kashmiri militants, Stratfor said in its latest analysis.
“Given the jihadist insurgency also intensifying along India’s western frontier and Pakistan seemingly losing control of its militant proxies, another major Islamist attack in India is inevitable,” it said.
“Regardless of whether the upcoming elections go off without a hitch, this is a reality Indian policymakers and security agencies will face for the foreseeable future,” the think tank said.
The Mumbai attacks last year, it said, had “exposed Indian security forces’ lack of preparedness and coordination.”
“The government responded to the (26/11) attack by announcing a slew of security reforms and by coordinating more closely with intelligence liaisons in London and Washington to improve Indian security practices and enhance intelligence sharing across state and national lines,” Stratfor said.
However, many of the “same critical flaws” in the security apparatus, including lack of money, manpower and management skills, remain, it said.
“The nature of India’s glacial-paced bureaucracy will greatly hinder New Delhi’s ability to overhaul the country’s internal security network effectively,” Stratfor said.
The Indian security apparatus, it said, “is already bracing itself for another major attack.”
Shifting the IPL tournament to South Africa gives the Indians more forces to secure the country for the national elections, “but this does not necessarily mean that the threat level during this time period has subsided,” it warned.
“The elections still provide Pakistani-based and indigenous Indian militants a good occasion to target politicians, government buildings, and voting booths — to say nothing of the usual soft targets like crowded marketplaces, movie theaters, hotels or religious sites,” the think tank said. (PTI)
Maoists kill kin of Congress leader in Chhattisgarh
April 3rd, 2009 - 8:17 pm
Raipur, April 3 (IANS) Three motorcycle-borne Maoists Friday shot dead the relative of a Congress leader who launched the Salwa Judum movement in Chhattisgarh’s restive Bastar region, police said.
Chhannu Karma, 45, the nephew of senior Congress leader Mahendra Karma, was shot dead in full public view just outside Dantewada town, 380 km from here, while he was on way to the town riding a motor cycle.
Three armed Maoists riding a motorcycle came from behind and fired at Chhannu, who jumped off his motorcycle and tried to flee. The Maoists chased him and pumped three bullets into him. “He succumbed to injuries on the spot,” Pawan Deo, deputy inspector general, police headquarters, told IANS.
Police rushed to the spot within
Raipur, April 3 (IANS) Three motorcycle-borne Maoists Friday shot dead the relative of a Congress leader who launched the Salwa Judum movement in Chhattisgarh’s restive Bastar region, police said.
Chhannu Karma, 45, the nephew of senior Congress leader Mahendra Karma, was shot dead in full public view just outside Dantewada town, 380 km from here, while he was on way to the town riding a motor cycle.
Three armed Maoists riding a motorcycle came from behind and fired at Chhannu, who jumped off his motorcycle and tried to flee. The Maoists chased him and pumped three bullets into him. “He succumbed to injuries on the spot,” Pawan Deo, deputy inspector general, police headquarters, told IANS.
Police rushed to the spot within
Salwa Judum activist shot dead
Published: April 3,2009
Raipur , Apr 3 Maoists shot dead a prominent activist of Salwa Judum, an anti- Naxalite movement, in Chhattisgarh&aposs Dantewada district, police said today.
District Superintendent of Police Rahul Sharma told PTI that around three Naxals shot dead Channuram Karma, the Sarpanch of Pharaspal village, while he was passing by a railway crossing.
Karma was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead, Sharma said.
The SP said since Karma was an active member of Salwa Judum, he was on the hit-list of the Maoists.
Karma is the nephew of senior Congress leader and former minister Mahendra Karma.
Following the incident, security has been beefed up in the Bastar area and investigation is on into the incident.
Source: PTI
Raipur , Apr 3 Maoists shot dead a prominent activist of Salwa Judum, an anti- Naxalite movement, in Chhattisgarh&aposs Dantewada district, police said today.
District Superintendent of Police Rahul Sharma told PTI that around three Naxals shot dead Channuram Karma, the Sarpanch of Pharaspal village, while he was passing by a railway crossing.
Karma was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead, Sharma said.
The SP said since Karma was an active member of Salwa Judum, he was on the hit-list of the Maoists.
Karma is the nephew of senior Congress leader and former minister Mahendra Karma.
Following the incident, security has been beefed up in the Bastar area and investigation is on into the incident.
Source: PTI
Gadchiroli gets Red threat
Jaideep HardikarSaturday, April 4, 2009 1:35 IST Email
Nagpur: An uneasy fortnight begins for the Gadchiroli police and district administration in the run-up to the April 16 polling for general elections, with the rebel Maoists asking villagers to boycott the elections and install their own Jantana Sarkar.
General election 2009"Yes, we have discovered posters in some villages of the district, through which the Naxalite splinters here have asked people to refrain from voting," superintendent of police Rajesh Pradhan said on Wednesday. But that, he said, is not unusual. "It's been their strategy always and despite that the voting percentage in the district remains a healthy around 70% every time."
One poster reads: "Boycott fake Lok Sabha elections and create a people's government: Courtesy Gadchiroli Division Committee, Communist Party of India (Maoist)." Some of the posters ridicule police operations like Sarvodaya and Parakram and condemn police action against the people of few villages.
Amidst heightened Maoist activities over the past few months though, the police and district administration are leaving nothing to chance. Police said Naxals would try best to disrupt the process, but they are prepared to foil their attempts.
"We are prepared for the elections and we'll ensure that the process is peaceful," Pradhan said. The reinforcements of the state and central troops have begun to come ahead of the polling. "We have also demanded three helicopters for aerial patrolling and hopefully we'll get it," he said.
The splinter Maoist groups have given a call for Gadchiroli bandh on April 10 in what the police say could be pressure tactics to disrupt the polling process.
Pradhan says there has been a rise in Naxal activity recently in retaliation to successful police crackdowns in 2008 and surrenders. But, the police have counter-strategies ready, with "naxal-chasing" operations already on for a week now.
Meanwhile, the election commission has reportedly accepted the district administration's demand to curtail polling hours for the stations in the remotest corner of the district. The police and administration had written to the district magistrate to reduce the polling timings by two hours, similar to what the election commission has agreed for the Maoist-infested parts of Orissa.
Nagpur: An uneasy fortnight begins for the Gadchiroli police and district administration in the run-up to the April 16 polling for general elections, with the rebel Maoists asking villagers to boycott the elections and install their own Jantana Sarkar.
General election 2009"Yes, we have discovered posters in some villages of the district, through which the Naxalite splinters here have asked people to refrain from voting," superintendent of police Rajesh Pradhan said on Wednesday. But that, he said, is not unusual. "It's been their strategy always and despite that the voting percentage in the district remains a healthy around 70% every time."
One poster reads: "Boycott fake Lok Sabha elections and create a people's government: Courtesy Gadchiroli Division Committee, Communist Party of India (Maoist)." Some of the posters ridicule police operations like Sarvodaya and Parakram and condemn police action against the people of few villages.
Amidst heightened Maoist activities over the past few months though, the police and district administration are leaving nothing to chance. Police said Naxals would try best to disrupt the process, but they are prepared to foil their attempts.
"We are prepared for the elections and we'll ensure that the process is peaceful," Pradhan said. The reinforcements of the state and central troops have begun to come ahead of the polling. "We have also demanded three helicopters for aerial patrolling and hopefully we'll get it," he said.
The splinter Maoist groups have given a call for Gadchiroli bandh on April 10 in what the police say could be pressure tactics to disrupt the polling process.
Pradhan says there has been a rise in Naxal activity recently in retaliation to successful police crackdowns in 2008 and surrenders. But, the police have counter-strategies ready, with "naxal-chasing" operations already on for a week now.
Meanwhile, the election commission has reportedly accepted the district administration's demand to curtail polling hours for the stations in the remotest corner of the district. The police and administration had written to the district magistrate to reduce the polling timings by two hours, similar to what the election commission has agreed for the Maoist-infested parts of Orissa.
Silence of Maoists baffles cops
4 Apr 2009, 0307 hrs IST, G Arun Kumar, TNN
HYDERABAD: Elections are close at hand but the silence of Maoists is deafening. While the sounds of AK-47s are muffled in naxal-dominated districts
all along Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra borders, AP police are worried it’s only a lull before the storm.
“The unusual lull is strange. The Maoists may resort to ambushes and stray attacks to bamboozle the cops and disrupt the poll process,” an apprehensive police officer told TOI. Heavy Maoist presence is evident in 10 to 15 assembly constituencies that share border with Orissa, 20 to 25 constituencies along the Chhattisgarh border and about 40 in Telangana districts that have borders with all the three states.
Top cops said that Maoist action teams could well aim at specific targets this time. Reports indicate that armed militia are already moving in companies (each comprising 90-100 members). Corroborating this, a DIG-level officer said the elections are the only means to strike terror and make their presence felt. “They may resort to tactical counter offensive by striking where it hurts the most,” an expert said.
Sources said with assembly polls having been over in Chhattisgarh, Maoists would be more than keen to disrupt the AP assembly polls. “We have specific information that the rebels are holding regular meetings in Khammam-Chhattisgarh border areas to foment trouble,” a senior cop said. Sources said local guerrilla squads (LGS) could enter from the Andhra Orissa Board (AOB) and Chhattisgarh and cause widespread destruction. Regrouping of Maoists in north Telangana districts has also not been ruled out. The massing (over 250 armed men) of Maoists in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra is another major concern.
While paramilitary, CRPF, APSP, Greyhounds and local police have been conducting extensive combing in the forest areas to flush out the rebels, field craft operations are being hampered because of the tough AOB terrain. “Coordination with neighbouring states and sharing of information on movement of naxals has been intensified,” a Maoist-hit district SP revealed.
Police are not only keeping track of movement of couriers and Maoist sympathisers in deep forest tracts but they are also binding over tribal youths having links with Maoists. The most vulnerable districts in AOB are Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Ganjam, Visakha Rural, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram, while the Khammam-Chhattisgarh border is another hot spot. Boycott calls have always been a feature of every election and the naxals coerce people against voting, but this time, the Maoists haven’t spread terror like they did prior to 2004 polls.
HYDERABAD: Elections are close at hand but the silence of Maoists is deafening. While the sounds of AK-47s are muffled in naxal-dominated districts
all along Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra borders, AP police are worried it’s only a lull before the storm.
“The unusual lull is strange. The Maoists may resort to ambushes and stray attacks to bamboozle the cops and disrupt the poll process,” an apprehensive police officer told TOI. Heavy Maoist presence is evident in 10 to 15 assembly constituencies that share border with Orissa, 20 to 25 constituencies along the Chhattisgarh border and about 40 in Telangana districts that have borders with all the three states.
Top cops said that Maoist action teams could well aim at specific targets this time. Reports indicate that armed militia are already moving in companies (each comprising 90-100 members). Corroborating this, a DIG-level officer said the elections are the only means to strike terror and make their presence felt. “They may resort to tactical counter offensive by striking where it hurts the most,” an expert said.
Sources said with assembly polls having been over in Chhattisgarh, Maoists would be more than keen to disrupt the AP assembly polls. “We have specific information that the rebels are holding regular meetings in Khammam-Chhattisgarh border areas to foment trouble,” a senior cop said. Sources said local guerrilla squads (LGS) could enter from the Andhra Orissa Board (AOB) and Chhattisgarh and cause widespread destruction. Regrouping of Maoists in north Telangana districts has also not been ruled out. The massing (over 250 armed men) of Maoists in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra is another major concern.
While paramilitary, CRPF, APSP, Greyhounds and local police have been conducting extensive combing in the forest areas to flush out the rebels, field craft operations are being hampered because of the tough AOB terrain. “Coordination with neighbouring states and sharing of information on movement of naxals has been intensified,” a Maoist-hit district SP revealed.
Police are not only keeping track of movement of couriers and Maoist sympathisers in deep forest tracts but they are also binding over tribal youths having links with Maoists. The most vulnerable districts in AOB are Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Ganjam, Visakha Rural, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram, while the Khammam-Chhattisgarh border is another hot spot. Boycott calls have always been a feature of every election and the naxals coerce people against voting, but this time, the Maoists haven’t spread terror like they did prior to 2004 polls.
IG expresses concern over increasing crime in coastal belt
UNI, Thursday, 02 April 2009 - 13:31:20 IST
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Manipal: Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Gopal B Hosur today expressed concern over increasing incidents of crime in coastal areas of Karnataka.
''The increasing incidents of communal disharmony, underworld activities and links, terrorism, moral policing and naxal activities have become the core issues of the coastal region,'' he said, addressing a press conference here after inaugurating two mobile security vans provided by the Manipal University with university security men and an armed policeman.
He said policing had seen a sea change in recent time and had become more challenging.
He said the challenge was stronger in the coastal region. Moral policing has made things tough for the police. Security personnel had to be on their toes round the clock. Of late, the coastal region was in news for wrong reasons.
While citing University's example of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in strengthening the hands of the police, he said the public in general could play an important role in bettering security.
Manipal University, Chancellor Dr Ramdas M Pai hoped that the venture would prove beneficial to the students of the two campuses and to the people of the area as well.
Pro Chancellor Dr H S Ballal said patrolling will help to beef up security cover on the two campuses. 'Eagle 1 and II' the two vans, are equipped with additional communications and other specialized equipment
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Manipal: Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Gopal B Hosur today expressed concern over increasing incidents of crime in coastal areas of Karnataka.
''The increasing incidents of communal disharmony, underworld activities and links, terrorism, moral policing and naxal activities have become the core issues of the coastal region,'' he said, addressing a press conference here after inaugurating two mobile security vans provided by the Manipal University with university security men and an armed policeman.
He said policing had seen a sea change in recent time and had become more challenging.
He said the challenge was stronger in the coastal region. Moral policing has made things tough for the police. Security personnel had to be on their toes round the clock. Of late, the coastal region was in news for wrong reasons.
While citing University's example of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in strengthening the hands of the police, he said the public in general could play an important role in bettering security.
Manipal University, Chancellor Dr Ramdas M Pai hoped that the venture would prove beneficial to the students of the two campuses and to the people of the area as well.
Pro Chancellor Dr H S Ballal said patrolling will help to beef up security cover on the two campuses. 'Eagle 1 and II' the two vans, are equipped with additional communications and other specialized equipment
Para military forces to get multi-role helicopters
New Delhi, Apr 3 (PTI) In an effort to intensify reconnaissance missions and give an edge to para military force operations in difficult terrains, the Home Ministry will procure eight multi-role helicopters from HAL worth over Rs 343 crores.
The ministry has signed a contract with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the supply of eight advanced light Dhruv helicopters which can be used for civil as well as military roles.
The first lot of four helicopters will delivered by the end of this month and the remaining in 2010-11, the ministry said in its report for the month of March.
For the first four months, these helicopters will be used for training before being pressed into operations.
Dhruv is a multi-role and multi-mission advanced light helicopter developed by the Helicopter Division of the HAL which can be used both during day and night operations.
The Central paramilitary forces have been demanding air-power from the ministry to give an edge to their counter-insurgency operations in various parts of the country, officials sources said.
CRPF's Anti-Naxal force Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA) has also sought air-power to help it tackle the Left-wing extremism spreading across a number of states, especially in those areas where land movement is limited, the sources said. PTI
The ministry has signed a contract with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the supply of eight advanced light Dhruv helicopters which can be used for civil as well as military roles.
The first lot of four helicopters will delivered by the end of this month and the remaining in 2010-11, the ministry said in its report for the month of March.
For the first four months, these helicopters will be used for training before being pressed into operations.
Dhruv is a multi-role and multi-mission advanced light helicopter developed by the Helicopter Division of the HAL which can be used both during day and night operations.
The Central paramilitary forces have been demanding air-power from the ministry to give an edge to their counter-insurgency operations in various parts of the country, officials sources said.
CRPF's Anti-Naxal force Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA) has also sought air-power to help it tackle the Left-wing extremism spreading across a number of states, especially in those areas where land movement is limited, the sources said. PTI
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
High-alert sounded in three Orissa districts
Rourkela (PTI): High alert has been sounded in Maoist-affected areas of Sundergarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts in Orissa in view of Wednesday's Jharkhand bandh.
Round-the-clock patrolling is on at the Orissa-Jharkhand border and other precautionary measures have been taken to ensure peace during the bandh, police said.
The bandh call has been given by the CPI(Maoist) to protest the re-arrest of their leader Bharat Mundari and his wife Premalata by Jharkhand police from their residence at Panchapoya village on Saturday night after their release from Bonai jail in Sundergarh.
Mundari, who was commander of platoon number 22 of the CPI(Maoist) group, was in Bonai jail along with his wife after their arrest on September 25, 2007.
Round-the-clock patrolling is on at the Orissa-Jharkhand border and other precautionary measures have been taken to ensure peace during the bandh, police said.
The bandh call has been given by the CPI(Maoist) to protest the re-arrest of their leader Bharat Mundari and his wife Premalata by Jharkhand police from their residence at Panchapoya village on Saturday night after their release from Bonai jail in Sundergarh.
Mundari, who was commander of platoon number 22 of the CPI(Maoist) group, was in Bonai jail along with his wife after their arrest on September 25, 2007.
Maoists killed village leader in Orissa
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 Email StoryFeedbackPrint Story
Report by Tapan Mallik, Baneigarh: Tuesday late night Maoists has murdered a village leader in Langalakanta village under K.Balang Police station. The police has not yet reached in the spot.
As per information Bedanath Singh ( 45) of langalakanta village under K.Balang Police Station and Sombamba panchayat of Sundargarh district is a village leader. Maoists had called a meeting on 29th March. In this meeting Bedanath was absent.So the maoists were angered with him. Tuesday in the midnight when he was sleeping in his house,the Maoists have called him and taken him to the forest. In the forest they murdered him .Wednesday the peoples were found the dead body of Bedanath in the forest and informed the police
Report by Tapan Mallik, Baneigarh: Tuesday late night Maoists has murdered a village leader in Langalakanta village under K.Balang Police station. The police has not yet reached in the spot.
As per information Bedanath Singh ( 45) of langalakanta village under K.Balang Police Station and Sombamba panchayat of Sundargarh district is a village leader. Maoists had called a meeting on 29th March. In this meeting Bedanath was absent.So the maoists were angered with him. Tuesday in the midnight when he was sleeping in his house,the Maoists have called him and taken him to the forest. In the forest they murdered him .Wednesday the peoples were found the dead body of Bedanath in the forest and informed the police
Orissa Police seized Maoist posters houses in Similipal
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
http://www.orissadiary.com/Shownews.asp?id=11769
Report by Orissadiary correspondent; Baripada : Close on the heels of the recent attack by the Maoist ultras on the forest offices in Similipal reserve forest areas, the Mayurbhanj police on Tuesday seized posters on the walls of the three forest beat houses in Similipal. According to police, the posters, written in Hindi, Oriya and English, warned the police and forest department staffs not to harass the poor and innocent tribals. They also urged the tribals to boycott the ensuing general elections. Maintaining that the police has been arresting a number of innocent tribals suspecting them to be Maoists, the posters alleged that poaching, deforestation, illegal supply of tuskers, tiger skin, timber logs and valuable forest items are taking place in collusion with some unscrupulous forest and district officials and smugglers.
We are ready to fight the government to ensure the social and economical right for the poor people and destroy the monopoly system of the government, the posters reportedly mentioned.
http://www.orissadiary.com/Shownews.asp?id=11769
Report by Orissadiary correspondent; Baripada : Close on the heels of the recent attack by the Maoist ultras on the forest offices in Similipal reserve forest areas, the Mayurbhanj police on Tuesday seized posters on the walls of the three forest beat houses in Similipal. According to police, the posters, written in Hindi, Oriya and English, warned the police and forest department staffs not to harass the poor and innocent tribals. They also urged the tribals to boycott the ensuing general elections. Maintaining that the police has been arresting a number of innocent tribals suspecting them to be Maoists, the posters alleged that poaching, deforestation, illegal supply of tuskers, tiger skin, timber logs and valuable forest items are taking place in collusion with some unscrupulous forest and district officials and smugglers.
We are ready to fight the government to ensure the social and economical right for the poor people and destroy the monopoly system of the government, the posters reportedly mentioned.
Maoist threat looms large on 385 booths
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Ranchi, March 31: The district administration today declared 385 out of 2,090 booths in the district as supersensitive owing to the presence of Maoists.
These polling stations fall under Ranchi, Lohardaga and Khunti parliamentary constituencies.
Out of the 385 booths, election will be held at 357 in the first phase on April 16 while the rest will host the polls on April 23. A majority of the supersensitive booths are situated in Bundu and Tamar under Khunti constituency, which will go to the polls on April 16.
Deputy commissioner-cum-district election officer Rajeev Arun Ekka and senior police superintendent of Ranchi Praveen Kumar said this today at a news meet.
Kumar said that to ensure peaceful elections, 32 criminals had been identified who would be booked under Crime Control Act, while 1,126 would be kept in judicial custody.
Kumar said help of NCC cadets would be sought to ensure free and fair elections. “We require 100 companies of Jharkhand Armed Police and central paramilitary forces, including Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force and Special Auxiliary Force. We have also asked the group captain of NCC to provide senior division cadets who will be posted in urban areas ,” he added.
Ekka said 144 sector officers would be deputed at different parts of the district to take stock of the situation before the elections. Each section officer will cover 10 to 12 booth areas.
Vehicles will be seized from April 10. “We require 250 buses, 150 trucks, 156 mini-buses and 112 small vehicles for deployment of forces and polling staff,” he added.
Ranchi, March 31: The district administration today declared 385 out of 2,090 booths in the district as supersensitive owing to the presence of Maoists.
These polling stations fall under Ranchi, Lohardaga and Khunti parliamentary constituencies.
Out of the 385 booths, election will be held at 357 in the first phase on April 16 while the rest will host the polls on April 23. A majority of the supersensitive booths are situated in Bundu and Tamar under Khunti constituency, which will go to the polls on April 16.
Deputy commissioner-cum-district election officer Rajeev Arun Ekka and senior police superintendent of Ranchi Praveen Kumar said this today at a news meet.
Kumar said that to ensure peaceful elections, 32 criminals had been identified who would be booked under Crime Control Act, while 1,126 would be kept in judicial custody.
Kumar said help of NCC cadets would be sought to ensure free and fair elections. “We require 100 companies of Jharkhand Armed Police and central paramilitary forces, including Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force and Special Auxiliary Force. We have also asked the group captain of NCC to provide senior division cadets who will be posted in urban areas ,” he added.
Ekka said 144 sector officers would be deputed at different parts of the district to take stock of the situation before the elections. Each section officer will cover 10 to 12 booth areas.
Vehicles will be seized from April 10. “We require 250 buses, 150 trucks, 156 mini-buses and 112 small vehicles for deployment of forces and polling staff,” he added.
Suspected Maoists kill village head in Sundargarh
2 Apr 2009, 0348 hrs IST, TNN
ROURKELA: Suspected Maoists killed the head of Langal Kanta village under K Bolang police limits in Sundargarh district. The 55-year-old Deonath
Singh was abducted from his house on Tuesday and his body was found in a nearby jungle by locals on Wednesday afternoon.
A poster of CPI (Maoist) was found near his body. It said that Singh has been punished as he was a police informer. Police were yet to reach the spot till filing of this report. According to sources, Singh has been under Maoist threat for quite some time.
Sources said about 18 persons had come to his house on March 29 looking for him but left as he was not at home at that time. Late on Tuesday night, about 35 armed persons entered Singh's house and forcibly took him away to an unknown destination.
Afraid of the Maoists, Singh's family did not inform the police about the incident. According to eyewitness, there were deep cut marks on his throat and several injuries on his body. The incident came close on the heels of the murder of a CPM cadre under Koira police limits, about 10 days ago.
ROURKELA: Suspected Maoists killed the head of Langal Kanta village under K Bolang police limits in Sundargarh district. The 55-year-old Deonath
Singh was abducted from his house on Tuesday and his body was found in a nearby jungle by locals on Wednesday afternoon.
A poster of CPI (Maoist) was found near his body. It said that Singh has been punished as he was a police informer. Police were yet to reach the spot till filing of this report. According to sources, Singh has been under Maoist threat for quite some time.
Sources said about 18 persons had come to his house on March 29 looking for him but left as he was not at home at that time. Late on Tuesday night, about 35 armed persons entered Singh's house and forcibly took him away to an unknown destination.
Afraid of the Maoists, Singh's family did not inform the police about the incident. According to eyewitness, there were deep cut marks on his throat and several injuries on his body. The incident came close on the heels of the murder of a CPM cadre under Koira police limits, about 10 days ago.
CRPF man hurt in Maoist blast
31 Mar 2009, 2309 hrs IST, TNN
BOKARO: A CRPF constable was injured when Maoists triggered a landmine blast near Aman village from atop Jhumra hills in Bokaro district late
Tuesday evening.
The Red rebels first triggered the blast and then opened indiscriminate fire on personnel of two platoons belonging to the CRPF's 26th Battalion at a place between Suarkatva and Aman who were returning from long-range patrolling, ASP Bermo Kranti Kumar said.
The CRPF men immediately retaliated. The injured constable has been rushed to hospital where his condition is stated to be critical, the ASP said
Sources said a large number of armed Maoists, including women cadres, were seen in the area in past few days.
BOKARO: A CRPF constable was injured when Maoists triggered a landmine blast near Aman village from atop Jhumra hills in Bokaro district late
Tuesday evening.
The Red rebels first triggered the blast and then opened indiscriminate fire on personnel of two platoons belonging to the CRPF's 26th Battalion at a place between Suarkatva and Aman who were returning from long-range patrolling, ASP Bermo Kranti Kumar said.
The CRPF men immediately retaliated. The injured constable has been rushed to hospital where his condition is stated to be critical, the ASP said
Sources said a large number of armed Maoists, including women cadres, were seen in the area in past few days.
Maoists with arms nabbed in Munger
MIDNAPORE, April 1: Three suspected Maoists were intercepted in Goaltore, West Midnapore carrying arms in a private car to Lalgarh from Munger in Bihar early today.The trio were identified as Bikash Mahato of Binpur, Inul Khan of Lalgarh and Saiful Rahaman of Munger.
A large quantity of arms, bomb-making materials and literatures belonging to the outfit were seized. The three men were charged under Section 121/121A/122/123 and 124A of the IPC and Section 25/27 and 35 of the Arms Act. They were produced before the judicial magistrate in West Midnapore today, who remanded them to 14 days in police custody.
Meanwhile, three days after the CPI-M declared that they would offer their full support to the Police Santras Birodhi Public Committee (PSBPC) and promised to fight in the latter’s battle over the Lalgarh issue, the PSBPC leader Mr Chhattradahr Mahato changed tack. He denied the presence of any Maoist leader at their rally at Simulpal in Belpahari on 29 March. This was despite the fact that he had repeatedly called the Maoist spokesman Gourmohan Chakraborty, and several other leaders involved in the mass movement for democratic values, to come over to the dais during the rally. Briefing the press, the Maoists declared in unequivocal terms that they would give “all-out support and cooperation to the PSBPC and build up counter-resistance,” if necessary, in their fight against police operations in Lalgarh on the eve of the Lok Sabha polls. n SNS
A large quantity of arms, bomb-making materials and literatures belonging to the outfit were seized. The three men were charged under Section 121/121A/122/123 and 124A of the IPC and Section 25/27 and 35 of the Arms Act. They were produced before the judicial magistrate in West Midnapore today, who remanded them to 14 days in police custody.
Meanwhile, three days after the CPI-M declared that they would offer their full support to the Police Santras Birodhi Public Committee (PSBPC) and promised to fight in the latter’s battle over the Lalgarh issue, the PSBPC leader Mr Chhattradahr Mahato changed tack. He denied the presence of any Maoist leader at their rally at Simulpal in Belpahari on 29 March. This was despite the fact that he had repeatedly called the Maoist spokesman Gourmohan Chakraborty, and several other leaders involved in the mass movement for democratic values, to come over to the dais during the rally. Briefing the press, the Maoists declared in unequivocal terms that they would give “all-out support and cooperation to the PSBPC and build up counter-resistance,” if necessary, in their fight against police operations in Lalgarh on the eve of the Lok Sabha polls. n SNS
Suspected Maoists held, arms seized
Indrani Dutta
KOLKATA: In a pre-dawn operation, three suspected Maoist leaders were arrested and a huge cache of arms and ammunition and some literature seized from them, police said.
West Bengal Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen told reporters that the suspected Maoists were going from Asansol by car.
They were arrested at Goaltor in Paschim Medinipur.
They are believed to have been on their way to Lalgarh, which is at the centre of a tribal agitation on and off for quite some time now.
KOLKATA: In a pre-dawn operation, three suspected Maoist leaders were arrested and a huge cache of arms and ammunition and some literature seized from them, police said.
West Bengal Home Secretary Ardhendu Sen told reporters that the suspected Maoists were going from Asansol by car.
They were arrested at Goaltor in Paschim Medinipur.
They are believed to have been on their way to Lalgarh, which is at the centre of a tribal agitation on and off for quite some time now.
Experts review terror threats
SUDHIR KUMAR MISHRA
Ranchi, April 1: A team of experts from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Special Protection Group (SPG) arrived in the state capital today to assess threat perceptions from Naxalites and Islamic fundamentalist forces, particularly Lashkar-e-Toiba (Let), in the wake of the general elections.
The security experts held a meeting with senior officials at the police headquarters to work out effective ways and means to face the challenges.
They are also likely to visit different parts of the state to evaluate the ground realities.
According to sources, several terrorist squads are believed to have entered the country with a mission to kill some top politicians during campaigns and disrupt the election process. Police suspect that a Let squad has entered Jharkhand too.
State director-general of police V.D. Ram has already directed the superintendents of police to ensure that the forces never moved in vehicles on kuchha roads.
An officer of the special branch said Naxalites are yet to begin their groundwork. “The rebels are either waiting to strike deals directly with potential candidates or something else is cooking in their minds,” the official added.
However, the police admitted that vague information was available on the presence of Lashkar-e-Toiba operatives in the state and tracking them was practically impossible.
Ironically, they seem to be banking on Naxalites to foil the nefarious designs of terrorists.
If the Maoists rise against the terrorists, the latter will never succeed in their mission in Jharkhand, pointed out a senior police official.
“The rebels should realise that there will be sympathy for BJP if the Islamic fundamentalist forces are able to prove their point during elections. And if the party comes to power, the Maoist organisations will face bigger threats from the official machinery,” said a senior official of the IB.
Ranchi, April 1: A team of experts from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Special Protection Group (SPG) arrived in the state capital today to assess threat perceptions from Naxalites and Islamic fundamentalist forces, particularly Lashkar-e-Toiba (Let), in the wake of the general elections.
The security experts held a meeting with senior officials at the police headquarters to work out effective ways and means to face the challenges.
They are also likely to visit different parts of the state to evaluate the ground realities.
According to sources, several terrorist squads are believed to have entered the country with a mission to kill some top politicians during campaigns and disrupt the election process. Police suspect that a Let squad has entered Jharkhand too.
State director-general of police V.D. Ram has already directed the superintendents of police to ensure that the forces never moved in vehicles on kuchha roads.
An officer of the special branch said Naxalites are yet to begin their groundwork. “The rebels are either waiting to strike deals directly with potential candidates or something else is cooking in their minds,” the official added.
However, the police admitted that vague information was available on the presence of Lashkar-e-Toiba operatives in the state and tracking them was practically impossible.
Ironically, they seem to be banking on Naxalites to foil the nefarious designs of terrorists.
If the Maoists rise against the terrorists, the latter will never succeed in their mission in Jharkhand, pointed out a senior police official.
“The rebels should realise that there will be sympathy for BJP if the Islamic fundamentalist forces are able to prove their point during elections. And if the party comes to power, the Maoist organisations will face bigger threats from the official machinery,” said a senior official of the IB.
Never lower your guard, MHA tells 40 leaders
Font Size Express news service
Posted: Apr 02, 2009 at 0138 hrs IST
New Delhi: In the wake of intelligence reports that terrorist groups might try to target important political leaders during the elections, the Home Ministry has asked about 40 high-profile leaders to strictly adhere to the security drill prescribed for them and cooperate fully with the security agencies.
The Ministry has also written to the state governments asking them to ensure proper protection for these VIPs when they campaign in their respective states.
The 40 leaders, which include most of the NSG and SPG protectees, are said to be on the target of not just terrorist organisations but also of Naxalites and insurgent groups wanting to make their presence felt during the elections.
In a letter written on March 27, Home Minister P Chidambaram has advised all these leaders to follow the do’s and don’ts of the security arrangements made for them and stressed that it was better to err on the side of caution.
He said in case the leaders under threat had doubts over what security procedures needed to be followed, they were welcome to contact officials in the Home Ministry or even the Home Minister.
The ministry has also shared the information available with intelligence agencies on the threats posed to these leaders.
The intelligence agencies had last month picked up specific inputs which suggested that Terror groups were planning to attack popular politicians in the run-up to the elections with the aim of disrupting the election procedure in the country.
Chidambaram had recently also visited the border areas in Punjab and Rajasthan and urged the Border Security Force to step up its vigil in order to thwart expected attempts by infiltrators to enter the country ahead of the elections.
Posted: Apr 02, 2009 at 0138 hrs IST
New Delhi: In the wake of intelligence reports that terrorist groups might try to target important political leaders during the elections, the Home Ministry has asked about 40 high-profile leaders to strictly adhere to the security drill prescribed for them and cooperate fully with the security agencies.
The Ministry has also written to the state governments asking them to ensure proper protection for these VIPs when they campaign in their respective states.
The 40 leaders, which include most of the NSG and SPG protectees, are said to be on the target of not just terrorist organisations but also of Naxalites and insurgent groups wanting to make their presence felt during the elections.
In a letter written on March 27, Home Minister P Chidambaram has advised all these leaders to follow the do’s and don’ts of the security arrangements made for them and stressed that it was better to err on the side of caution.
He said in case the leaders under threat had doubts over what security procedures needed to be followed, they were welcome to contact officials in the Home Ministry or even the Home Minister.
The ministry has also shared the information available with intelligence agencies on the threats posed to these leaders.
The intelligence agencies had last month picked up specific inputs which suggested that Terror groups were planning to attack popular politicians in the run-up to the elections with the aim of disrupting the election procedure in the country.
Chidambaram had recently also visited the border areas in Punjab and Rajasthan and urged the Border Security Force to step up its vigil in order to thwart expected attempts by infiltrators to enter the country ahead of the elections.
Naxalites attack school building in Bihar
Jamui (PTI): Armed activists of proscribed CPI (Maoist) blasted a State-run school at Chormara village in Bihar's Jamui district in the wee hours on Tuesday.
Around 50 heavily-armed ultras surrounded the Choramara Madhya Vidayalaya under Bhimbandh forest range and blew up the school building by using dynamites, police said. However, no casualties were reported in the attack, they said.
Raids were being carried out at different places to apprehend the naxalites. The Maoist operation was aimed at pre-empting the administration's plan to use the school building for the stay of the central para-military force personnel during elections, the police said.
Around 50 heavily-armed ultras surrounded the Choramara Madhya Vidayalaya under Bhimbandh forest range and blew up the school building by using dynamites, police said. However, no casualties were reported in the attack, they said.
Raids were being carried out at different places to apprehend the naxalites. The Maoist operation was aimed at pre-empting the administration's plan to use the school building for the stay of the central para-military force personnel during elections, the police said.
Red block in rural campaign
KUMUD JENAMANI
Jamshedpur, April 1: With only weeks to go for the parliamentary elections in Jamshedpur, not a single candidate has tapped the rural belt here.
Fear of a Naxalite attack has so far kept star campaigners and candidates away from the interiors of Ghatshila, while Patamda and Potka wear a deserted look.
The streets of densely-populated Galudih in Ghatshila, too, missed out on the election buzz as none of the candidates in the fray for the Jamshedpur Lok Sabha seat has set up any party office here.
Former MP and JMM leader Sunil Mahto was gunned down by Naxalites two years ago in Galudih.
“We are aware that the Lok Sabha elections are round the corner, but the kind of activity that would be seen during the electioneering days earlier is absent this year,” said Sadashiv Murmu, a resident of Baguria village in Galudih.
Murmu, who is a teacher of a government primary school at Galudih, claimed that the leaders of political parties are not interested to visit Galudih or any other place in the interiors of Ghatshila.
“Maybe the JMM, BJP and Ajsu leaders apprehend threat to their while campaigning in Ghatshila interiors, but the reluctance of people to visit places like Galudih will take a toll on the development of the villages,” said Murmu.
Subodh Paramanik, a resident of Kesharpur, revealed that voters of this region may feel alienated from the election process if the trend continues.
“It is just not a candidate’s prospects that go up by campaigning in these villages. The voters living here also stand to gain later as the successful candidate has to fulfil his or her promises,” said Paramanik.
Of the total 13.5 lakh voters in Jamshedpur Lok Sabha constituency, only five lakh voters are from the urban areas under Jamshedpur East and West constituencies.
The rest of the voters hail from the rural areas spread across four Assembly segments, namely Ghatshila, Bahragora, Potka and Patamda-Jugsalai.
The prominent candidates for the elections include Arjun Munda, Suman Mahto, Shailendra Mahto and Arvind Singh.
Only Munda had addressed a public meeting at Ghatshila, but the area was inside Ghatshila township.
Jamshedpur, April 1: With only weeks to go for the parliamentary elections in Jamshedpur, not a single candidate has tapped the rural belt here.
Fear of a Naxalite attack has so far kept star campaigners and candidates away from the interiors of Ghatshila, while Patamda and Potka wear a deserted look.
The streets of densely-populated Galudih in Ghatshila, too, missed out on the election buzz as none of the candidates in the fray for the Jamshedpur Lok Sabha seat has set up any party office here.
Former MP and JMM leader Sunil Mahto was gunned down by Naxalites two years ago in Galudih.
“We are aware that the Lok Sabha elections are round the corner, but the kind of activity that would be seen during the electioneering days earlier is absent this year,” said Sadashiv Murmu, a resident of Baguria village in Galudih.
Murmu, who is a teacher of a government primary school at Galudih, claimed that the leaders of political parties are not interested to visit Galudih or any other place in the interiors of Ghatshila.
“Maybe the JMM, BJP and Ajsu leaders apprehend threat to their while campaigning in Ghatshila interiors, but the reluctance of people to visit places like Galudih will take a toll on the development of the villages,” said Murmu.
Subodh Paramanik, a resident of Kesharpur, revealed that voters of this region may feel alienated from the election process if the trend continues.
“It is just not a candidate’s prospects that go up by campaigning in these villages. The voters living here also stand to gain later as the successful candidate has to fulfil his or her promises,” said Paramanik.
Of the total 13.5 lakh voters in Jamshedpur Lok Sabha constituency, only five lakh voters are from the urban areas under Jamshedpur East and West constituencies.
The rest of the voters hail from the rural areas spread across four Assembly segments, namely Ghatshila, Bahragora, Potka and Patamda-Jugsalai.
The prominent candidates for the elections include Arjun Munda, Suman Mahto, Shailendra Mahto and Arvind Singh.
Only Munda had addressed a public meeting at Ghatshila, but the area was inside Ghatshila township.
Maoist bandh a success
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Policemen keep vigil on NH-33. Pix: Srinivas
Jamshedpur, April 1: Life in Ghatshila sub-division remained paralysed today as a Naxalite-sponsored 24-hour bandh evoked a near-total response in East Singhbhum and Mayurbhanj districts.
State offices, as well as private firms, remained closed in Ghatshila, Musaboni and Bahragora. Schools, colleges and training centres across the sub-division were shut.
Traffic was sparse on the NH-33 and in the Ghatshila township. There was heavy deployment of paramilitary forces and police on the township streets, on the NH-33 and along the Bahragora-Ghatshila-Jamshedpur stretch, that otherwise bore a deserted look with nearly no traffic.
The CPI(Maoist) had called the bandh to protest against police atrocities and to demand a hike in minimum wages. Posters that spoke of the bandh, however, refrained from mentioning specific cases of the atrocities. Sources said life in the interiors of Dumaria, Musaboni, Ghurabandha and Potka — which otherwise remain unaffected — also bore the brunt of the bandh today.
The bandh also left an impact on poll campaigns.
The JMM, JVM and BJP had set up camps in Ghatshila and Musaboni for campaign work. Except the BJP, the rest of the offices remained closed from the morning. “We cannot keep a camp office closed because of a Naxalite bandh. We cannot succumb to such demands,” said Godabari Mahato, a BJP activist
Policemen keep vigil on NH-33. Pix: Srinivas
Jamshedpur, April 1: Life in Ghatshila sub-division remained paralysed today as a Naxalite-sponsored 24-hour bandh evoked a near-total response in East Singhbhum and Mayurbhanj districts.
State offices, as well as private firms, remained closed in Ghatshila, Musaboni and Bahragora. Schools, colleges and training centres across the sub-division were shut.
Traffic was sparse on the NH-33 and in the Ghatshila township. There was heavy deployment of paramilitary forces and police on the township streets, on the NH-33 and along the Bahragora-Ghatshila-Jamshedpur stretch, that otherwise bore a deserted look with nearly no traffic.
The CPI(Maoist) had called the bandh to protest against police atrocities and to demand a hike in minimum wages. Posters that spoke of the bandh, however, refrained from mentioning specific cases of the atrocities. Sources said life in the interiors of Dumaria, Musaboni, Ghurabandha and Potka — which otherwise remain unaffected — also bore the brunt of the bandh today.
The bandh also left an impact on poll campaigns.
The JMM, JVM and BJP had set up camps in Ghatshila and Musaboni for campaign work. Except the BJP, the rest of the offices remained closed from the morning. “We cannot keep a camp office closed because of a Naxalite bandh. We cannot succumb to such demands,” said Godabari Mahato, a BJP activist
Naxalites raze public buildings to prevent make-shift camps
Published: March 31,2009
Bokaro (Jharkhand), Mar 31 With an aim to prevent the security forces from taking shelter in them during their anti-naxal operation ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Maoists blew up four public buildings at different places in Jharkhand, police said today.
A vacant community hall was blown up by Maoists at Penk village in Bokaro district after stuffing landmines in it late last night, Assistant Superintendent of Police Kranti Kumar told reporters here today.
Kumar said the Maoist strategy was to prevent security forces taking shelter during their operations against them.
A separate group of naxalites blasted two buildings housing primary schools in Latehar district&aposs Ghansitola village in the wee hours, according to Hemant Toppo, Superintendent of Police, Latehar.
The demolition could be a part of the naxalites&aposdesign ahead of the polls, the police officer said.
In the third incident which had occurred in Gumla&aposs Banalat area last night, the naxalites triggered blast in a primary school building, destroying a portion of the structure, the police said and added there was no loss of life in any incident.
Source: PTI
Bokaro (Jharkhand), Mar 31 With an aim to prevent the security forces from taking shelter in them during their anti-naxal operation ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Maoists blew up four public buildings at different places in Jharkhand, police said today.
A vacant community hall was blown up by Maoists at Penk village in Bokaro district after stuffing landmines in it late last night, Assistant Superintendent of Police Kranti Kumar told reporters here today.
Kumar said the Maoist strategy was to prevent security forces taking shelter during their operations against them.
A separate group of naxalites blasted two buildings housing primary schools in Latehar district&aposs Ghansitola village in the wee hours, according to Hemant Toppo, Superintendent of Police, Latehar.
The demolition could be a part of the naxalites&aposdesign ahead of the polls, the police officer said.
In the third incident which had occurred in Gumla&aposs Banalat area last night, the naxalites triggered blast in a primary school building, destroying a portion of the structure, the police said and added there was no loss of life in any incident.
Source: PTI
Naxalites blows up health centre
Published: April 1,2009
Latehar (Jharkhand), Apr 1 Naxalites today blew up a primary health centre here to stop security forces from taking shelter in the building during the anti-insurgency operations.
The naxals planted dynamite in the building located at Saryu village of the district and blew it up early this morning, police said.
A note left at the spot said the health centre was blown up because neither doctors nor nurses were visiting it and security forces had made it their rest house during anti-naxal operations, police said.
This was the fifth government structure to be blown up in two days. Yesterday the naxals had blown up health and educational structures at Bokaro, Gumla and in Latehar.
Source: PTI
Latehar (Jharkhand), Apr 1 Naxalites today blew up a primary health centre here to stop security forces from taking shelter in the building during the anti-insurgency operations.
The naxals planted dynamite in the building located at Saryu village of the district and blew it up early this morning, police said.
A note left at the spot said the health centre was blown up because neither doctors nor nurses were visiting it and security forces had made it their rest house during anti-naxal operations, police said.
This was the fifth government structure to be blown up in two days. Yesterday the naxals had blown up health and educational structures at Bokaro, Gumla and in Latehar.
Source: PTI
Khammam police gearing up to meet Maoist threat
B Satyanarayana ReddyFirst Published : 01 Apr 2009 03:50:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 01 Apr 2009 12:56:48 PM IST
KHAMMAM: The district police, in collaboration with State’s top police officials, are preparing an action plan to put a check on Maoist activities in the border areas during the general election. The Bhadrachalam division has been given a special security status as it has been identified as a very sensitive constituency as most of the forest area in the district is situated in the district. Maoists have traditionally been strong in the Bhadrachalam division.
The Maoists, informed sources in the police say, have established permanent camps in the Dantewada and Bijapur districts of Chhattishgarh and planned to mar the elections, particularly in Khammam district and in Chhattisgarh.
With the Maoists calling for boycott of elelctions, the intelligence department has already washed its hands of with a warning to the police department that Maoists would resort to violence during the elections. The Maoists have even distributed pamphlets to people asking them not to vote and warned them of dire consequences if they did not heed their warning.
In this background, police officials held a meeting here recently to discuss the issue. Top police officials from Chhattisgarh and Orissa also particiapated in the meeting.
The police are keeping special focus on 237 polling stations in the border area and preparing a plan to ensure peaceful conduct of elections. Already, 121 extremist-affected villages have been identified in the border area, superintendent of police Mahesh Bhagat has told to The New Indian Express.
Bhagat says that two companies of the Border Security Force have been deployed in the border area and deep forests to thwart any attacks from Maoists. Besides, a few battalions of CRPF, APSP, Grey Hounds and Special Police have been deployed. And some more BSF companies are likely to be deployed in the border area. Combing operations began last month. Vehiclechecking has been going on extensively to keep Naxal material logistics in check.
Every possible step is being taken to put a check on Maoist activities. The borders with Orissa and Chhattisgarh have been sealed to prevent movement of anti-social elements and transport of liquor. The SP appeals to people to exercise franchise without fear or favour, assuring them of security to their lives.
KHAMMAM: The district police, in collaboration with State’s top police officials, are preparing an action plan to put a check on Maoist activities in the border areas during the general election. The Bhadrachalam division has been given a special security status as it has been identified as a very sensitive constituency as most of the forest area in the district is situated in the district. Maoists have traditionally been strong in the Bhadrachalam division.
The Maoists, informed sources in the police say, have established permanent camps in the Dantewada and Bijapur districts of Chhattishgarh and planned to mar the elections, particularly in Khammam district and in Chhattisgarh.
With the Maoists calling for boycott of elelctions, the intelligence department has already washed its hands of with a warning to the police department that Maoists would resort to violence during the elections. The Maoists have even distributed pamphlets to people asking them not to vote and warned them of dire consequences if they did not heed their warning.
In this background, police officials held a meeting here recently to discuss the issue. Top police officials from Chhattisgarh and Orissa also particiapated in the meeting.
The police are keeping special focus on 237 polling stations in the border area and preparing a plan to ensure peaceful conduct of elections. Already, 121 extremist-affected villages have been identified in the border area, superintendent of police Mahesh Bhagat has told to The New Indian Express.
Bhagat says that two companies of the Border Security Force have been deployed in the border area and deep forests to thwart any attacks from Maoists. Besides, a few battalions of CRPF, APSP, Grey Hounds and Special Police have been deployed. And some more BSF companies are likely to be deployed in the border area. Combing operations began last month. Vehiclechecking has been going on extensively to keep Naxal material logistics in check.
Every possible step is being taken to put a check on Maoist activities. The borders with Orissa and Chhattisgarh have been sealed to prevent movement of anti-social elements and transport of liquor. The SP appeals to people to exercise franchise without fear or favour, assuring them of security to their lives.
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