Senior Security Adviser K Vijay Kumar, along with the senior state police officers on Thursday reviewed the ongoing construction of roads in left wing extremism (lWE) affected areas in the State. DGP Rajeev Kumar, IG (operations) Murari lal Meena, IG CRPF RK Mishra, DIG (CRPF) Rajiv Rai held meeting on the road construction in the left wing extremist hit three districts — Garhwa, latehar and Palamu.
“He had come to collect inputs related to security arrangements for construction of roads in the lWE affected areas of the state,” said Palamu SP Mayur Patel. We also discussed about the ongoing anti-Maoist operations in the area, added Patel. According to Patel, Kumar has directed them to ensure security to everywhere where the projects of road construction was being carried out in the lWE affected areas.
Palamau Deputy Commissioner (DC) K N Jha and Garhwa DC Manish Ranjan also attended the meeting. Kumar also said that if the local people are willing to work in the road constructions, they are welcome. Kumar said, “I have been told that local workers are taking part in road construction at Sarju in latehar is really a good sign.”
Kumar however, refusing to comment on the mushrooming of splinter groups in Jharkhand, said that all aspects are being looked at closely in this regard.
Sources in the police department also added that Kumar, when asked if the Border Road Organization (BRO) will be taking over the road construction work in Jharkhand, said that the state government will be asked whether they need the services of the BRO or not. Kumar reminded that involving BRO in road construction work in the lWE hit areas has been a long overdue but no deliberation was made in this regard.
“The BRO has done some road construction works in Chhattisgarh but it has more important jobs to do in the country,” said Kumar. The Former CRPF DG and Advisor to Governor during last stint of President’s Rule in Jharkhand Kumar’s visit is also seen as a shot in the arm of security forces who are said to be fighting a final battle with the extremist forces in the state. Kumar is well aware of the ground realities of the state and want that the ongoing road construction projects in the state get expedited.
Kumar’s visit to Jharkhand may be looked into the backdrop Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari asking to expedite the road construction projects in the lWE hit districts in the Country.