Taking a strong note of the reports published in newspapers related to children being forcefully taken away by the CPI (Maoist) cadre for inducting them into their group, the Jharkhand High Court on Thursday took suo-motu cognizance issuing notices to Union Government as well as various other departments of the State Government asking them to reply on the issue by May 1.
“Based on media reports published in some of the newspapers related to the children being abducted by the Naxals from the remote villages in the State, a division Bench of Chief Justice Virender Singh and Justice PP Bhatt directed me to issue notice to the State Government,” said advocate Sumeet Garodia, who has been appointed amicus curiae.
The court also observed that Naxalism has become the root cause for the underdevelopment of the State which could not achieve what could have been achieved by it in the last 14 years, added Gorodia. Notices have also been issued to the Principal Secretary, Union Ministry of Home Affairs; Chief Secretary of Jharkhand, Additional Chief Secretary Department of Home, DGP Jharkhand, Department of Child and Social Welfare of Jharkhand.
According to the reports published in newspapers, the Naxals have demanded at least five children from seven villages in Gumla for inducting them into their fold either to be used for courier purposes or to be used as human shields in case of encounter with the forces. The issue was highlighted earlier in September 2013 after 11 children were forcefully taken away by them to train them in planting bombs. later, all were freed after the death of a child was leaked in the media.
As many as 11 children were forcefully taken by the Maoists from Bandhua village in latehar after they failed to pay a fine of Rs5,000 imposed by the rebels on each household of the village alleging them of cutting trees of the adjoining forest area for preparing filed for cultivation.