Maoists on backfoot as cops make dent in poll-bound Bihar
Patna: Barring a few pockets in southern Bihar that share border with
Jharkhand, Maoists have little ability to disrupt assembly polls in the
state. Though 33 of 38 districts in Bihar are Maoist-hit, security
forces have succeeded in cornering the rebel outfit in Gaya, Aurangabad,
Nawada, Munger, Jamui and Lakhisarai districts. In Gaya and Jamui,
several top Maoist activists died in encounters with security forces
over the past few months. CRPF IG, Bihar sector, Arun Kumar said, “Only a
few districts are vulnerable to Maoist violence and it is not easy for
the red rebels to disrupt polls in densely populated northern Bihar that
offers little space to them to hide and operate.”
Kumar’s confidence stems from the fact that Bihar has registered a
sharp fall in Maoist violence in 2015. It is a big relief for the
Election Commission of India which is gearing up for one of the largest
mobilisations of central para-military forces (around 60,000) in
poll-bound Bihar. In 2015, only 63 incidents of Maoist violence have
been reported till July, the lowest since 2010 when JD(U)-BJP alliance
formed government for the second time in Bihar with Nitish Kumar at the
helm of affairs. Eight lives were lost in these incidents. Even the
bandh called by Maoists to oppose PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the state
in August evoked no response.
Even in south Bihar, considered as Maoist stronghold, security forces
have made inroads. IG Kumar said Shiv Shankar Baitha, a top Maoist
activist of Magadh zone, was recently arrested and the security forces
killed Sarita Ganjhu, zonal commander of the rebel outfit, in a recent
encounter. “Around six to seven hardcore Maoist activists were arrested
in the recent past. The death of Sarita Ganjhu has demoralised the women
cadres of the outfit,” Kumar said. However, Dev Kumar Dhan alias
Arvindji, who holds command of the rebel outfit in Bihar and Jharkhand,
is yet to be arrested.
In 2010, Bihar recorded 307 cases of naxal violence in which 97 lives
were lost. In 2011, 316 incidents claimed 63 lives. In 2012, only 166
incidents were reported in which 44 people lost their lives. The year
2013 saw 177 incidents of naxal violence claiming 69 lives which came
down to 163 incidents and 32 deaths in 2014, according to a Union home
ministry data. JD(U) spokesperson Dr Ajay Alok credited CM Nitish
Kumar’s inclusive development strategy for slide in naxal activities in
the state. “ The security forces will have an upper hand while combating
the Maoists during polls,” he said.
The Maoists exert their influence in Bihar through three zones –
Uttri zone (across the Ganges in north Bihar), Madhya zone (the central
Bihar) and Magadh zone (south Bihar sharing border with Jharkhand). ADG
(law and order) Alok Raj said the Maoists have lost foothold in the
state following police pressure. “We have recovered several improvised
explosive devices from Khagaria and other districts this month,” Raj
said. He, however, added that the police have recovered several Maoist
posters in Jamui announcing poll boycott. “Security agencies should
exercise utmost care and caution during the polls,” he said.
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