A Maoist poster pasted on a wall. Picture by Prakash Kumar

Muzaffarpur/Gaya, April 14: Naxalites thrashed an outgoing mukhiya of Nandai panchayat in Gaya and threatened several candidates in the fray from Muzaffarpur with “dire consequences” if they took part in the upcoming election process.

Janardhan Thakur, the outgoing mukhiya, has been rushed to Patna for treatment. He was reportedly beaten up as he “dared” to defy the Maoist diktat and take part in the panchayat elections, starting from April 20.

Over 250 candidates from different blocks in Gaya have withdrawn their nominations. Last week Naxalites raided Kolsaita under Dumaria block in Gaya and thrashed Laxman Baitha, the father-in-law of a woman candidate contesting the elections.

Around 300 individuals, who had filed their nomination for different posts, were summoned by the Maoists to a jan adalat.

In the presence of these nominees for panchayat elections, Maoists reiterated their diktat to withdraw their candidature or be ready to face action.

Maoists visited various places in the district, including Dumaria, Imamganj, Barachatti, Bankebazaar and Gurua blocks of Sherghati sub-division in Gaya and pasted posters to enforce their diktat.

Apart from instructing the candidates not to contest the polls, the Naxalites have appealed to the administration to highlight the alleged loot in development schemes. The posters mentioned that there were discrepancies in preparing the lists of people living above poverty line and below poverty line. The Naxalites also asked for a proper implementation of the Indira Awas Yojana, job card, public distribution system, old age and the widow pension. Maoists have also opposed the Operation Green Hunt, terming it a measure just to harass common people.

Meanwhile, in Muzaffarpur, the rebels have instructed the electorate in Minapur, Shivaipatti, Paroo, Saraiya, Sahebganj and Deoriya Kothi to ensure a cent per cent poll boycott. They have also told villages to not listen and get swayed by police statements. Rebels have circulated leaflets across all these areas.

Armed Naxalites moved across several villages, including Mohabbatpur, Paigamberpur, Bishunpur, Dharfari, Chandkewari, Neora, Turki, Shivaipatti Chowk, Dera Chowk, Gangti, Terma, Sanichra Asthan, Banghara and many more village panchayats, and ordered the people to follow their diktat.

The district police have seized copies of Maoists’ leaflets from areas under Minapur and Paroo police stations.

“Many candidates are having sleepless nights apprehending threat to their lives,” said Sri Narayan Sah, 50, a Mukhiya candidate from Paigamberpur panchayat under Minapur police station.

Worried after receiving the threat calls, several candidates have asked the office of the senior superintendent of police (SSP), Rajesh Kumar, for security cover.

The SSP confirmed that many petitions for a security cover have reached their office from candidates, but expressed his incapability to do anything because of a lack of police personnel. “The applications have been forwarded to the station house officers,” he said.

Zonal inspector-general (IG) of police Gupteshwar Pandey said the district police would launch a search operation in a couple of days to flush out the rebels hiding with ulterior motive.