Success saga

Giridih, Oct. 14: Four hardcore Naxalites were arrested today from the Parasnath hill region. A cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered from the spot.

A team of Giridih police, led by deputy superintendent Anurajan Kishpotta and Pirtand police station officer-in-charge H.E. Siddiqui, had been combing the Parasnath hill for the past three days.

Giridih superintendent of police Murari Lal Meena, however, refused to divulge further details of the operation stating that the team was still in the forest area and thereby vulnerable to attacks.

“For now, we can only say that four hardcore rebels were held and a large quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered. We can furnish further details by tomorrow. Our team is still in a vulnerable position, as they are in the forests and will return with those held tomorrow,” Meena said.

The police are labelling the arrests as a “severe blow” to rebel operations in and around the area. Parasnath hill is considered “safe zone” for Naxalites and secret meetings are reported frequently from the area.

A rural resident told The Telegraph confirmed that the rebels of late have been “desperately” seeking new recruits. “The outfit’s current condition is that they have more rifles than men. They (rebels) frequently come to our villages seeking new members. Many are seen talking to young men and women,” said a resident of Pirtand preferring to remain anonymous.

Of late, the police were also successful in arresting members of sister organisations of the CPI(Moaist) such as Jharkhand Avon Team, a cultural organisation that is pro-Naxalite. On September 27, two members of the organisation, Iska Hembarum and Niranjan Murmu, were arrested. The police are also keeping a close vigil on rebel sympathisers.

In September, police also recovered at least four landmines from the Pirtand region.

Though the police have taken a beating from the rebels on numerous occasions, the force believes that the wheels may be turning finally. “These days, we are regularly conducting long-range patrolling. Through it, we not only keep policemen on toes, but also keep the Maoists at bay,” said a senior officer.

Today’s arrests, administration sources believe, would boost flagging morale of the administration that is chalking out plans to conduct a tourism festival, Shikhar Jee Mahotsav, in the Parasnath region soon.