Jhargram, 12 June (H.S.)

Asia's largest Saal forest Saranda has now become a headache for the Jhargram police. This forest is spread over East and West Singhbhum and Saraikela districts of Jharkhand. It is a hideout of Maoists. Last week, the police of Kamalapur police station of East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand served court notice to Maoist leader Jawa of Jamirdiha village of Belpahari, Mangal Singh Sardar of Bidri village and Malti of Patharnasha village of Gopiballabhpur police station. There is concern not only in the political circles but also in the police circles of the district. Because Jhargram district is adjacent to Jharkhand and is surrounded by forests. There is a high possibility of people coming to Jhargram from Jharkhand through the forests. The recent death of two top Maoist leaders in a joint operation in Chhattisgarh and the subsequent death of a police officer in a pressure mine explosion carried out by the Maoists has increased the tension. In this situation, sources said that the Maoists may enter the forests of Jhargram in search of a safe hideout from the Saranda forest. This has increased the blood pressure of the police officers of the district. The border areas adjoining the forests of the district are being constantly monitored. Jhargram SP Arijit Sinha said, According to the information of the central and state intelligence departments, there is no news of Maoist movement in Jhargram. This district borders the East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. That district has also been declared Maoist-free. This district does not border the West Singhbhum district. However, there may be Maoist movement in the Saranda forest of that district. Surveillance is going on as before. There are forests in a vast area of Jhargram and Jangalmahal. One can easily go from one state to another through the dense forest paths.

Notably, In the late 1990s, members of the People's War Group (PWG) and the Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) started operating separately in Jhargram, West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia. Later, the two groups merged to form the CPI (Maoist). The Maoists spread the network of their organisations by using backwardness and poverty as tools. On 2 November 2008, a land mine exploded in the convoy of then Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and Union Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan at Bhadutla in Shalbani, West Midnapore. On 28 May 2010, the Gyaneshwari Express derailed in Jhargram, killing 148 passengers. The police believe that the Maoists were behind this too. More than a hundred innocent people in the entire forest area became victims of murderous politics. Naxalite activities almost ended after the death of Maoist leader Kishanji but once again there has been a stir in the political circles of the district. 10 companies of central forces are deployed in Jhargram. Even then, the possibility of Maoists taking shelter in their old hideouts cannot be ruled out. CPI(M)'s Jhargram district secretary Pradeep Sarkar said, many leaders and workers of our party have been killed by Maoists. The politics of terror of Maoists is also a cause of trouble for us. Jhargram district Trinamool vice-president Prasun Sarangi said, the atrocities of leftist leaders helped the Maoists to flourish. Peace has returned to the district through development. There is no place in politics of terror.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey