Dumka, July 11: JAP-9 jawans at Sahebganj need to have no red fear. Their worst enemy comes out of the blue.

The battalion is located in what is known as white zone — where Maoist presence is not alarming. But an outbreak of water-borne diseases have threatened their existence, pitching them against a force they are not equipped to fight.

Panic is high among the jawans after they received news from Ranchi that Abid Ali, a constable in the JAP-9 team at Sahebganj, succumbed to jaundice at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).

The ill-fated constable was referred to RIMS on July 6 and he succumbed to jaundice on the night of July 7. His colleague, Arjun Kumar Tiwary, who was severely afflicted with malaria, has been shifted to Apollo Hospital in Ranchi.

Dozens of other in the battalion are fighting for life at Sadar hospital and at hospitals in Ranchi.

Similarly, S.L. Ekka, Rajendra Prasad, Joban Barla and Chandrabhusan Sharma — all jawans of JAP-9 — are seriously afflicted either with jaundice or malaria. All of them have been shifted to RIMS for better treatment.

JAP-9 commandant A.K. Singh was unavailable to comment but sources said many jawans have taken sick leave after they fell ill. The sick include two drivers and at least eight constables.

All of them are being treated at Sadar hospital or nursing homes at Sahebganj, the source said.

To make matters worse, JAP jawans are complai- ning that Sadar hospital lacks facilities.