Bhagalpur, Nov. 8: The state Schedule Tribes and Schedule Castes Commission has expressed concern over Maoists mounting pressure on the youths of Kodasi-Fulbaria village in Jamui district to join the banned outfit.

A team of the commission recently visited the village, considered a stronghold of the Naxalites, to find out the plight of the villagers, mostly tribals. Lalit Bhagat, vice-president of the commission, said several women of the village narrated their anguish to the members of the panel.

“They told us that the rebels were constantly mounting pressure on the villagers, especially the youngsters, to join the banned outfit. The commission will raise the issue before the state government,” Bhagat added.

The residents of Kodasi-Fulbaria have been facing the brunt of the Maoist menace for quite some time.

On August 25, a group of armed Maoists raided the village and took about 24 residents hostage. Shyamsundar Koda, one of the victims, still shudders to recollect what had happened that night.

“They had blindfolded us and asked us to move towards Bagmariya Bahiar on the outskirts of the village. They had also beaten us up mercilessly and threatened with dire consequences if we got in touch with police,” he said. Kari Devi, a homemaker who had suffered injuries in the attack by the rebels, said: “They asked us to either join their group or help them.”

Bhagalpur zone inspector-general of police A.K. Ambedkar said the police had information that the rebels were threatening the villagers to convince the youths to join the outfit. “We have set up a police picket at the village to counter any untoward incident,” he added.