In a major boost to anti-Naxal operation on Tuesday, Chief Minister Raghubar Das approved a staggering Rs8.69 crore reward scheme on the heads of wanted and absconding left-wing-extremists and members of People’s liberation Front of India (PlFI).
As many as 73 ultras belonging to the two outfits have been included in the list and the bounty on their heads has been classified according to the position they hold in the organisation.
The proposal moved by the home department focuses on breaking entire chain of command in both the outfits who rule by terror and comes barely few days after Das’ warning to the gun totting militias to shun violence else be ready to bear the consequences. Of 73, 64 are members of various committees of CPI-Maoist and nine are members of PlFI active in various pockets of Jharkhand.
“It was considered to enhance the reward money and it has been decided. This will act as a morale booster (for the police),” said Additional Chief Secretary (Home), NN Pandey.
The proposal of the department mentions whopping Rs4-crore bounty on the heads of 16 central committee secretary, special area committee member, regional bureau member; Rs1.95 core for 13 absconding members of regional committee members; Rs1.5 crore against 15 zonal committee members; Rs70-lakh on 14 sub-zonal committee members; Rs18 lakh to nab nine area commanders; Rs2 lakh against two lGS squad members; Rs34 lakh against four naxals arrested and killed during operations prior to the Tuesday’s decision.
“The proposal to increase reward was solicited from the Police Headquarters. Based on what is given in neighbouring states like Chhattisgarh, Andhra and others we have enhanced the reward,” said Deputy Secretary, Home, Shekhar Jamuar.The absconders, according to the police’s database, have bases in Giridih, Chatra, Gumla, Dumka, Khunti, Palamu, latehar, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Bokaro and Simdega. The list features Dinesh Gope, the defacto head of PlFI and senior member of the organization Jidan Gudiya; dreaded ultra, Kundan Pahan and Nakul Yadav besides several prominent names of the central committee members of CPI-Maoist in Jharkhand.
Yadav was involved in a fierce gun battle with the police and CRPF in latehar in May, 2015 but managed to flee the place with 30 aides leaving behind one dead sub-zonal commander and one injured woman rebel of his team. The PlFI has been active around the periphery of the capital and its members, including Gudiya were claimed to be involved in extortion activities.