M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Nov. 16: All superintendents of police (SPs) across the state have been asked to remain alert and cautious in the wake of the huge setback to the Maoists in the state and outside the state like Maharashtra, said the additional director general of police Operations (ADG ops) Jharkhand, Sanjay Anand Lathkar on Tuesday.
Lathkar told Lagatar24.com that the arrest of Prashant Bose alias Kishan Da, his wife and others have almost devastated the Maoists. “They must be in terrible shock and pain. They would have never dreamt of this arrest,” he added.
When asked if the Maoists can go for any hasty or inane backlash, Lathkar, who is known for his candid opinion and observation said, “The Maoists must be planning sheepishly to come out of this situation. Their sinister and evil designs can’t be overlooked.”
As per the media report on Maoists’ neutralization in Maharashtra, more than two dozen Maoists were killed In Gadchiroli encounter with the security forces. It has come as a colossal tragedy for them and this has further plunged them in the pit of losses.
When reminded that the Maoists hanged four people including two women to death in a shabby cow shed in the adjoining state Bihar, the ADG Ops said that they are keeping an eye on the development.
Palamu has a long porous border with Bihar. Entry and exit of the Maoists are not a new thing in this left-wing extremist hit district.
Asked if Maoists may try to have a similar barbarism and brutality in Jharkhand to regain their lost territory or influence Lathkar said, “As of now the Maoists operate from Bihar. We are vigilant on the borders touching Bihar.”
He said there is a considerable depletion of their strength in Jharkhand but nevertheless the police are alert as ever.
“We along with Bihar police will conduct joint operations to further put pressure on the Maoists,” he added.
“Some 10 years ago, Maoists used to mean too much but with our concerted effort and sustained drive against them, the Maoists are scurrying for their space in Jharkhand. We work on three things. First, when Naxals open fire on us we give them a befitting reply. It keeps them holed up for long before popping out again. Again we keep contacting their family members pursuing them to ask their desperadoes to join the mainstream of life and reap the benefits of the state’s surrender policy. Third, we keep our intelligence on their toes and that gives the Maoists little time to stretch out in the areas,” said the ADG Ops.
He also stated that the police have asked the Naxals to read the wind which is blowing against them and hence, before it gets late, they should surrender to the law.
He said their neutralization by the security forces and surrender by them make the Maoists at least in Jharkhand down but he agreed they are not out and that never makes us any complacent.
Reminded that some police officers just refuse not to learn how to connect with people in areas which have had a history of extremism and behave rudely with even media persons to which Lathkar said this is really an unfortunate thing. There is a need to have a change of attitude on the part of those police officers who throw decent talking to the wind.
He was also made aware of the fact that getting information or versions of the police in Palamu is fraught with the danger of getting rudely shot back by some police officers.
The ADG Ops was apprised as to how Lagatar24.com was rudely denied information on Monday with regard to the seizure of the marijuana by the officer in charge of the Hussainabad police station to which this top cop said the SP should be told of this as no police officer has any liberty to behave in any manner indecent and improper with anyone.
Lathkar said the Tamil Nadu police present itself in such a manner that wins the hearts of people there and we are to work hard here to improve police-public relations which gets a jolt by the unbecoming behaviour of a police officer.
