More than 15 lakh people of Gumla and Simdega heaved a sigh of relief as police on Saturday finally produced self-proclaimed zonal commander and zonal secretary of People’s liberation Force of India (PlFI) Badka Sanjay Tiger and Ashok Gope before the media.
PlFI had called an indefinite bandh in the two districts since Thursday, claiming that Tiger had been secretly arrested five days ago. It demanded that Tiger either be produced in court or before the media.
IG (Ranchi Zone) MS Bhatia organised a Press conference on Saturday and declared the arrests from jungles of Basia. “We arrested Sanjay Tiger and Ashok Gope last night, along with Rs 80,000 cash, 11 mobile phones, 10 SIM cards, one country-made pistol and several rounds of bullets,” said Gumla SP Rakesh Bansal.
Normal life had come to a standstill during the PlFI shutdown as vehicles were not allowed to ply, shops stayed shut and even some semi-Government establishments remained closed. Business bore a heavy loss.
Wife of Tiger, Savitri Devi, had also filed a complaint in court, suspecting her husband had been killed by the police. The police had been denying any such arrest. “Everything is not factual. Sometimes, they get stuck in a police trap but actually, they are not arrested. It gives an impression of an arrest,” added Bansal.
He said the bandh was unfortunate and promised to rid the area of anti-social elements. “It’s unfortunate that people stay in their houses on a single call by any anti-social element…..both administration and the public should fulfil their roles. People have to get over the mental terror created by rebel groups in Maoist-hit areas,” said Bansal. He felt that the fear of Naxals was a weak link, which broke the entire chain. People would have to disobey their diktats.
Police have been helpless in preventing such bandhs called by PlFI, a Maoist splinter group active in Gumla, Simdega, Khunti and lohardaga.