Security forces are on a high alert after the CPI (Maoist) called for a State-wide bandh on Monday against the “anti-people policies” of the State Government. ADG (Operations) and Jharkhand police spokesperson RK Mallick said that the district police all over the State have been asked to maintain vigilance, to remain alert and also not to get into the trap of the rebels.
“Forces have been deployed at every strategic location all over the State. Even though we do not give much importance to such bands as it is a day to day affair here, an alert has definitely been passed to the district police to be vigilant during the bandh,” said Mallick. SPs have also been directed to take preventive measures as per set guidelines and also ensure police deployments at all vulnerable locations, he added.
IG (Operations) Ashish Batra asserted that anti-naxal operations were also going on in full swing in the light of the day long bandh called by the Maoists.
“Security forces have been fully geared up and senior officials are camping in the interior areas,” said Batra.
looking at the incidents which took place recently in Dumri, additional forces have been deployed at some of the sensitive areas and vulnerable Railway Stations in the State besides conducting regular search operations in the sensitive areas, he added.
“Proper security plan has been chalked out for the proposed bandh on Monday,” said the IG. Recent Maoist incidents like torching of a railway station in Dhanbad, according to Batra, was an outcome of desperation as they have been losing base in the State after most of their cadres
surrendered before the Police or killed during Police encounters.
Bokaro superintendent of police (Railway) Ashim Vikrant Minz also said that following two back to back incidents in Bokaro special attention care is being taken and steps are being taken to ensure that the operation of trains remain normal.
“Request has also been made to the Police Headquarters to deploy additional forces for railway brides and other establishments in the sensitive areas during the bandh,” said Minz.
Incidentally, a group of 20-30 Maoists set afire the Dumri Bihar Railway Station on Gomoh-Barkakana section of East Central Railway (ECR) in Bokaro on Friday, a few days ahead of the Jharkhand bandh called by them to protest the state government bringing in an amendment to the CNT and SPT Acts allowing tribal land to be transferred to non-tribals.
The rebels also set afire the engine of a goods train and left with valuable railway equipment and a walkie-talkie from an engine driver.
The movement of trains was disrupted for several hours following the incident. They also pasted several anti-government posters on the each of the bogies of the goods train.