Ranchi, March 13: A tribal matriarch in Simdega and her three sons, all farmers, have donated an acre free of cost to the district police for setting up a thana in a region scarred by battling Maoists and PLFI, their generosity to help rid rebel menace turning the usual 'jaan denge, par jameen nahin denge' slogan on its head in the first case of voluntary land donation to the state in recent memory.

Today, Simdega police felicitated land donors Kalyani Kullu and her sons Basant, Nutan and Bhushan of Kochedega village, 12km from Simdega district headquarters and 170km from Ranchi, in a vibrant public function attended by over 2,000 people, including Simdega MLA Vimla Pradhan and DDC Vijay Munjni.

People played traditional instruments and even sang " Aapan ghar mein thana ailo re (a police station has come home)".

Simdega SP Rajeev Ranjan Singh, who said their community policing initiatives to build inroads of trust in villages had finally borne fruit, said the one acre would help them set up the Mufassil police station that would help over 20,000 people across Kochedega, Tamra, Sewai, Kullukera and Taisera panchayats.

"The mother and her three boys of the tribal family in Kochedega have not only donated us one acre free of cost, they have also set a unique example to fight Naxalism and control crime in the area," an elated Simdega SP Singh told The Telegraph .

"The current market value of the land is over Rs 10 lakh. Yesterday, it was formally transferred to us (the state). I signed the registration papers on behalf of governor Droupadi Murmu," he added.

Way back in 2008, the state cabinet had approved setting up Mufassil, Pakartand, Rengari and Mahabuang police stations in the area, but getting land proved the big stumbling block. Though police stations in Mahabuang, Rengari and Pakartand did come up, the police had to face resistance from people, including roadblocks, which allegedly were masterminded by rebels, even though they had government land.

But, in the case of Mufassil area, the police could identify only a small wedge of government land measuring 500 feet in length and 50 feet in width, too small for a police station. The Mufassil thana continued to function out of Simdega sadar police station premises, but it was of little use as it was 12km away from the intended site.

But, about six weeks ago, people of Kochedga panchayat approached SP Singh in person and invited him to look at Kalyani's land adjoining the government plot. "They told us the family was ready to provide surplus land adjoining our government plot," said the SP. "We thought it was too good to be true. But, it was actually true. They are not rich landowners, they are a modest farming family but with a big heart," Singh said.

He added he would soon request his bosses to initiate steps to begin construction work of the thana on the plot along Simdega-Kurdeg road that leads to Kunkura in Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh. "The place is of tactical importance," the SP stressed.

One of the vegetable belts of the state, the area grows paddy and wheat too, but in smaller quantities. A year ago, Maoists had killed two villagers suspecting them of being PLFI supporters. Extortion threats are common.

"But now, thanks to this living example of a family reposing its faith in the police, the thana and the gesture will have a far-reaching impact in fighting Naxalism," SP Singh promised.