M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Aug 13: Surrendered Naxals, now living in their homes, and family members of those Naxals who are still undergoing imprisonment in the open jail in Hazaribagh on Saturday took part in the felicitation ceremony held at Manika in Latehar district to mark the 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
The ceremony was an extended part of the community policing but in reality, it was for saying ‘thanks to the Naxals who shunned arms, ammunition and violence and joined the mainstay of life now having a secured future.’
Sources said Latehar district police do big things very often but it does too small and miserly when it comes to sharing its own exploits like this ceremony today for which lagatar24.com correspondent had to phone Latehar SP Anjani Anjan who bought time to share details while the officer in charge of the Manika police station Shubham Kumar could furnish details in piecemeal in at least three calls of this correspondent. OC Manika Shubham Kumar finally bailed out this correspondent with relevant information.
SP Anjani Anjan in one such briefest conversation with lagatar24.com in the recent past had clearly told this correspondent that “I am a media-shy person. I believe in doing my work and I ask my boys and officials to work with dedication and commitment.”
According to the officer in charge of the Manika police station Shubham Kumar, 5 surrendered Naxals came in person during this ceremony.
The 5 who came in person have been identified by this police officer Shubham as Bada Vikas (Maoist), Damodar Yadav (Maoist), Darogi Yadav (Maoist), Narayan Yadav (Maoist) and Gajju Sao (Maoist).
One brother of Balak Ganjhu appeared in the ceremony on behalf of his brother as Balak Ganjhu is in the open jail Hazaribag. Balak carries a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head.
According to police officer Shubham, the families of two Naxals Anil Oraon (TSPC) and Birender Yadav (Maoist), who are serving imprisonment in open jail Hazaribagh, also came.
Sources said it was not only a thank you to the families of the surrendered Naxals or to the 5 Naxals who came in person but to showcase this ceremony to further publicise and take down the surrender policy of Jharkhand to the grassroots level of the extremism to wean away those who are still hiding in the jungles and caves.
The occasion was doubled up as a campaign against witchcraft also reminding the modest gathering to refrain from believing in witchcraft as it does not exist at all. The gathering was told of severe penal action for witchcraft.
A press note issued on this occasion and given by the police officer Shubham read there is kitchenware available at security posts which can be hired free by families where there is either a marriage ceremony or some such festivity. The kitchenware so obtained from the security posts by the families is to be returned to the security posts after the function in the families gets over.
The thank you to Naxals and their families ceremony was attended by the DIG police Palamu, DIG CRPF, DC and SP besides host of the officers.
