M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Oct 16: Garhwa district police and CoBra jawans on Saturday recovered large amounts of life saving drugs from a dump of the Maoists on the Burha Pahar.
According to the DIG operations and STF Anoop Birtharay, the joint team of the security forces recovered 300 meters of the codex wire, four improvised explosive device in metal cans each weighing one kg, one barrel, one bundle of carbon paper, four pouches along with a variety of medicines and bottles of saline.
Regarding carbon paper Garhwa SP Anjani Kumar Jha said, “The recovery of carbon paper bundle is quite important. It goes with the land mines. If the land mine device is wrapped around with carbon paper, the metal detectors used to detect the mines are unable to do so. The carbon paper creates interference with the signals. This technique is used by Maoists to keep their devices undetected under metal detectors.”
Meanwhile, the medicines recovered outnumber the wires and mines recovered on Saturday. Security forces recovered in-vitro rapid diagnostic kit from the area.
Notably, this kit, which tests swabs of nose and throat for infection was the most sought after device during pandemic.
Sources said the recovery of the kit from the area is first such on the Burha Pahar. This suggests the Maoists had such persons who knew how to use it. This is important because the machine requires precision and expertise to conduct the test of naso-pharyngeal swabs.
SP Jha conceded that Maoists do have personnel among them who know about medicines and tests. He did not rule out village quacks giving them timely help as well.
The police have also recovered Davocid MPS vials. This medicine is used in the treatment of acidity, stomach or peptic ulcer and bloating. The medicine also helps contain formation of gas in the stomach.
Popular liver drug Liv 52 of the Himalayan company was also recovered along with loose motion tablets Metronidazole by the security forces.
Along with this, there were 32 Malaria test kits as well besides a range of syringes and needles with medicines like Betadine, antibiotic cream, hemo SIL which are used for cuts and bruises.
There were recovered a good number of bottles of saline like DS, RL etc which is a fight to control diarrhea.
SP Jha said, “We understand the Maoists are never oblivious to their health issues. They are health conscious like many others. They can’t afford to be unmindful of their health in the jungles or on the Pahar.”
Sources said the Maoists used to refresh their limited stock of the medicines with those with those with longer expiration dates.
Anti bacterial infection injection Oxyvet vials were also recovered. Oxyvet is oxytetracycline which is very combative in fighting infections caused by multiple bacteria.
On being asked as to how such recovery is now being made by the security forces, Birtharay said, “Tips about Maoists’ hides are coming to us from people who don’t wish to be named. These people tell us where we can find the ‘deposits’ of the Maoists.”
DIG STF said, “Lower rung cadres of the Maoists are coming to us with the sole desire for getting a reprieve. They are the ones who are deserting the Maoists. They see a future for themselves if they try to be a part of the mainstay in life. We will not be disappointing them too.”
