DIG of police Palamu range Saket Kumar Singh is the first top cop, who has given an open call to former Naxals and others to utilise the coming opportunity when the State will be having panchayat poll.
DIG said, “Nothing could be any more heartwarming than to see former Naxals contesting panchayat election as this would be a return of them in the democratic process.”
“I as a man in uniform welcome if former extremists of any squad, contingent or outfit finds himself or herself fit to fight the panchayat election as this will open a new horizon for them,” reiterated the DIG.
He said there comes a moment in one’s life when one is compelled to see things as they are and former extremists will have nothing to curse themselves if they try to hitch a bandwagon of democratic journey.
He further said extremists have seen guns, smokes, blood and bones and but now time has come for ballot using and here the former extremists stand a chance to contest as any other eligible individual.
Without referring to any one’s name DIG said there has been several instances where former naxals of high order have fought election. A couple of them even reached victory stand also and this panchayat election offers a big chance to many others who have till date fight shy of contesting election.
Saket reminded an under trial naxal is free to file his/her nomination but where any naxal is evading law and its machinery then the law of the land will work against such a Naxal.
Sources said former male naxals have tried their luck in the polls but not the female ones. Palamu’s panchayat election will be interesting to watch as insiders in the naxals’ outfits hint at good number of members of naxals’ families weighing pros and cons to jump into the poll fray.
The DIG said, “An under trial naxal in jail has given Matriculation examination and has passed too.” Sources said Karimji is an example of it. He wrote his Matric examination from inside the jail and got passed. So where is the harm if an under trial Naxal or a former Naxal joins politics of election quipped the DIG.