Soren keeps fingers crossed

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi
Sunday, March 14, 2010

The launch of Operation Green Hunt in parts of Jharkhand has left Chief Minister Shibu Soren a worried man. His obvious cause of concern is the after-effects of the operation.

"Bullet is no means to solve the problem. I hope the operation in these areas will be concluded in the coming five to 10 days and normal life will resume very soon," Soren was quoted as saying on Saturday evening.

"Although, Soren formally joined the league of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram but he is still apprehensive about the collateral damage that might result in the coming days," a well-placed source close to Soren said while speaking to The Pioneer.

The source said that Soren could share this concern with the Central Government so that the operation was planned in such a manner to ensure that the lives of innocent tribals was not affected during the operation.

His concern has compounded following the restriction imposed on the local tribals to move inside the forest area to collect firewood to sustain their life. Requisite security forces have been deployed at the water bodies to snap the Maoists' water supply which has also hit the tribals as they also collect water from these places.

"Mundas (local tribal heads) of the area have been asked not to send their men into the jungle. You may say that the Forest Right Act has just been replaced by Green Hunt. And if the operation continues for a longer period it will jeopardise the livelihood of the local tribal populace," he said revealing the concern of Soren

These are some of the critical issues that Soren fears might affect his core tribal following.

But the DIG, CRPF, Alok Raj has disputed that any such order has been passed to stop tribals from moving in the forest area. "See, forest is the natural habitat of the tribals. It is their home. How can we drive them out…it is an operation against armed Naxalites who have long waged violence as the central instrument."

The operation has just been launched in Ghatsila, Khunti and other areas where thousands of paramilitary forces have joined the operation. The operation is in the first phase where the security forces has been following 'strike and come back, don't wait to be struck, blow before you are blown' strategy.

Maoists too seem to have emulated Philippines models: Strike and run. Fight against the armed Naxalites: The first round went to the security forces. It nabbed some of the key Maoist leaders and cache of arms and ammunition.

The source said that Soren was worried for the second and the next round of operation when the security forces will deal with Naxalites and their sympathisers in the villages.

"We are yet to reach this level, and, then will come the tedious job to identify a forced sympathiser and those who ideologically support the Maoists…it is not a war, it is an operation. But that will be the most critical stage," said a senior police officer.

With every ground shift Soren's concern is growing. He does not know which side the tribals stand as each considers the other as the enemy.