Tribals demand suspension of ongoing anti-Maoist operations in Jharkhand

Ranchi, Sep 5 (ANI): Jharkhand tribals held demonstration against the anti-Maoist operations of police to combat Maoist activities in the region.

The Jharkhand and Orissa police along with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had launched the joint anti-Maoist operation on July 31.

The protestors alleged that the police had killed two tribals and arrested several innocents during their operations.

Some protestors complained that the operations, being carried out in the Saranda forest range against Maoists, is targeting poor people and they are scared of police.

"Since the launch of operation 'Green hunt' by the police, all the schools, houses, forest houses in the Saranda area along with the people are facing its brunt. The police interrogate people who travel from one place to another for work and farmers regarding Maoist-operations and other information about the Maoist ultras. If people don't answer them, then they (police) beat them, kill them or even put them in jails, which is wrong," said Renu Yadav, a protestor.

Meanwhile the police officials of the region said that about 33 Maoists were arrested within a month during the ongoing anti-Maoist operations in the Saranda forest range in the state.

Clearing their stand against the allegations made by the tribal protestors, Naveen Kumar Singh, Deputy Inspector-General (DIG), said that the police does not arrested any villager without reason. They arrest them for investigation and release them after questioning them.

"We have given clear instructions to our officials for not arresting any villager without reason. We have brought more than 25 people to the police station recently, for inquiry and when they gave us satisfactory answers then we have released them without charge sheeting them. Some were sent to jail but after discussing their matter with our senior officials in a meeting. Still, if somebody has any grievance, we are still ready to look into it," said Singh.

On September 3, Singh had said that huge cache of arms and ammunitions were recovered during their anti-Maoists operations from Saranda forest range and they have destroyed at least 12 Maoist camps. (ANI)