Ranchi (Jharkhand), July 21 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Thursday sent a letter to the Jharkhand Government, demanding a strict review and change of the state police set up.
In his letter, Chidambaram demanded the transfers of superintendent of police of five districts on grounds of poor performance in tackling the Maoist menace that has gripped most of the state.
Jharkhand Home Secretary J.B Tubid told media persons in Ranchi city that state officials are currently reviewing Chidambaram's letter.
"No, there is no link or allegation like this. He (P. Chidambaram, India's Interior Minister) has called for the need to review and fasten the Maoist operations.See it is a high level document that has been brought to the notice of the state government and we would take a decision only after reviewing it," said Tubid.
According to media reports Chidambaram has asked for immediate change of senior police officers of Lohardaga, Chatra and Garhwa districts. He has also asked Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda to review the performance of senior police officers of Gumla and Simdega districts.
The diktat from the central government comes in the backdrop of increasing fatal casualties of security forces during combat operations and attacks by Maoists.
Meanwhile, former chief minister and President of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) Babulal Marandi criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government for its inability to tackle the Maoist menace effectively.
He called for the removal of the Arjun Munda Government for the betterment of the state.
"The letter written by the federal Interior Minister is further proof of our views. We have often said that the state government is doing nothing. In such a case when the state government is inefficient and directionless then what all can you expect out of the police administration? Hence I think that more than the removal of SPs (superintendents of police), the government should be dismissed only then peace, law and order can be restored in the state," said Marandi.
Despite stringent action taken by the federal government to eliminate the ultras, Maoist insurgency has spread into the interiors of 20 of India's 28 states.
The Maoists say they are carrying on a crusade against the prevailing political system, upholding the cause of the poor and marginal farmers and landless labourers.
Analysts view that the guerrilla wars, waged mostly from the forests of central and eastern India by ultras of the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist, posed the biggest threat to the country's internal security.
Hundreds of people have been killed and injured in the violence, perpetrated by both the rebels and in counter insurgency operations by the security forces.
Maoists have also significantly increased their presence in tribal and rural areas in the states of Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa. (ANI)
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