Naxal chatters state caught napping

Intelligence hints at security threat and flow of Naxals

Rajiv/ Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Monday, December 8, 2008


The latest intelligence inputs about the forthcoming Assembly by-election of Tamar are enough to give sleepless nights to the State Government and the political parties.

It is serious due to the fact that Chief Minister Shibu Soren is finally learnt to have decided to contest the election from Tamar. The State Congress in a press communiqué said that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had agreed to nominate Soren as the UPA candidate.

Authoritative sources within the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) said: "The UPA will hold a meeting on Wednesday at the residence of deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi to make an official declaration about his candidature.

The intelligence sources said that Peoples Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA), which has been conducting its one week long anti-Government exercise from December 2 to December 8 might target the political leaders of the national parties. The clandestine exercises include killing of senior police officials, loot of police arms and many such subversive acts, the sources cautioned.

The intelligence sources said that the leaders including that of the national parties besides JD (U) candidate from Tamar Vasundhara Munda, AJSU president Sudesh Mahto and the candidate of Jharkhand Party Raja Peter. Naxal groups are learnt to have formed election-monitoring committees to feel the electoral pulse of the voters.

The intelligence agencies have showed concern over the frequent movement of the candidates in Tamar without any security cover. Meanwhile, the Home department is learnt to have directed the district administration to hold meeting with the political parties and the candidates to discuss the security threat.

The well-placed sources in the district administration said that meeting could be conducted after December 15.Declaring the whole area as sensitive, intelligence missive indicated that the Naxal groups could perpetrate violence and cautioned that the group needed to be neutralised.

The source dropped hint of thick concentration of Naxal activists that includes some of the top ranking Naxal leaders. However, after the declaration of the candidature of Soren the State police would take enough security measures to thwart any Naxal plots.