Taking initiative to tackle the problem of alcoholism in the PlFI-hit Rania area of Khunti, DGP Rajiv Kumar has promised to extend all support to remove the disease of alcoholism from the society. Kumar was talking to the gathering of around 3,000 people in Rania during a programme organised under community policing programme.
“We will try to organise such a get together every week so that we can enter into direct dialogue with the locals of the Naxal hit areas to understand their problems being faced them,” said DGP. Kumar also appealed to the rebel members to drop their guns and return to the mainstream as their life was quite uncertain, without any direction, added the DGP.
During his visit to Rania, hardcore Maoist Anil Singh also surrendered with his arms before the DGP on Sunday who was allegedly involved in at least 5 cases on his head. 20 year Singh has been elevated to the post of Secretary of Podarhat Sub-Zonal Committee. Kumar handed over Rs50,000 in cash as per the provisions under the scheme ‘Nai Dishayen.’
Singh told the police that he had been working with top Maoist leader Prasad Ji alias Krishna Ahir for the last five years, and decided to join the mainstream as he was regularly being exploited by the top leaders. DGP during a Janata Darbar, also heard the day to day problems of the villagers living in the area, once considered to the worst affected by the left wing extremism (lWE).
Mukhia and Panchyat representatives of areas were also present along with the villagers during the get together putting their problems before the DGP. The villagers termed problem of alcoholism, rampant in the area, as the major factor for underdevelopment. Even though, special awareness drives are being conducted against alcoholism through small associations formed by the women, they do not get proper support from the administration.
DGP however, assured that the police force present in the area will help those associations for the eradication of alcoholism from the society. He also directed Khunti SP to conduct awareness campaign against alcoholism across the district. “We have been told to conduct extensive awareness drive against the ill effects of alcoholism or consumption of country made liquor (Hadia) through small groups of women,” said Khunti SP Anish Gupta.
They have also been told to set up special camps during weekly ‘haats’ in the area to rehabilitate the villagers suffering from the alcoholism, added Gupta. DGP during his visit also took stock of the ongoing Operation Karo-II being conducted in the area against People’s liberation Front of India (PlFI). Kumar was told that the area, which was considered as a liberated zone a few years back, now has a remarkable number of security personnel present in the area. According to the local police, the area was more or less under control having only one or two PlFI groups remaining in the area as against a total of 11 groups just a few years back.