In order to make it possible to reach out to the remote rural areas in minimum possible time, Jharkhand police on Wednesday was made available 500 motorcycles, out of which 450 will be utilised exclusively during anti-Naxal operations by the security forces. Rest of the 50 motorcycles will be used to manage traffic movements in the State.
According to offcials purchase of 160cc ‘Hero Achiever’ bikes was made by the Government of India on DGSD Rates under Police Modernization Fund worth Rs3 crore. The keys were handed to DGP DK Pandey at police headquarters in Ranchi in presence of other senior officials of police department.
Taking into account the increasing number of casualties during the anti-Naxal operations in the state, the demand for motorcycles were being raised by the district police officials since a long time. This will help them to reach out to their destinations in the minimum possible time.
“It becomes easier for the security forces to move on bikes rather than four wheelers in difficult terrains due to bad condition of roads and adverse weather conditions during rainy seasons, hence it is advisable for them to move on the two wheelers or by foot if possible,” said IG Provision and Jharkhand Police Spokesperson Anurag Gupta. Moreover, they can also move off the roads in some of the patches vulnerable to landmine threat in the worst Naxal affected areas, added Gupta.
It is also believed by the police department that the number of casualties in case of a landmine explosion is much less on motorbikes as compared to the four- wheelers, where everyone sitting on the vehicle gets injured, Gupta said.
The initiative was also lauded by the officials posted in some of the worst hit left wing Extremism (lWE) affected districts in Jharkhand.
“Motorcycles have many advantages like we can now reach out to some of the remotest areas in a very less time through motorcycles as compared to the four wheelers, which also has the possibility to that the rebels get alerted after movement of security is spotted in those areas,” said an SP posted in Naxal infested district of Jharkhand requesting anonymity.
Moreover, zig zag pathways in the jungles could be easily covered through those motorcycles making it possible for us to strike on them in the minimum possible time, added the SP.
“Motorcycles on the other hand, have multi-dimensional advantage as it is advisable to move on light vehicles in the jungle areas since there is also a threat of triggering landmines in such areas,” said the SP.
Sources in the police department however, revealed that Ranchi, being the capital city will be receiving the lion’s share which is expected to get at least 30 motorbikes out of the sanctioned 50 bikes to control traffic movements. While equal distribution of motorbikes will be made among the worst Naxal affected areas in the state numbering around 20-25 enabling movement of 40-50 jawans at a time.