JAP havildar major Parwender Kumar Pandey at RIMS, Ranchi, on Thursday. (Hardeep Singh)

Ranchi, Dec. 2: Maladies, not Maoists, are compelling Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP) jawans deployed in jungle camps to juggle with options like voluntary retirement (VRS) and career change.

At least four JAP-I personnel are currently undergoing treatment for malaria and jaundice at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi. Half a dozen others are admitted to JAP hospital in Doranda. If the victims are to be believed, a couple of hundred others are grappling with diseases at camps in Maoist strongholds, thanks to poor civic amenities like contaminated water.

Stalked by malaria and jaundice and frustrated with life at his Bundu camp, havildar major Parwender Kumar Pandey (51) said he had decided to take voluntary retirement from service. Sitting on his bed at the medicine ward, Pandey said he was fed-up with lack of basic amentities at the camp. “I applied for voluntary retirement on November 30.”

JAP-I commandant R.K. Dhan said he was not aware of Pandey’s VRS request, but said he had received eight such applications in eight months. “Jawans seek VRS only due to personal reasons,” he added.

A permanent resident of Dehradun in Uttaranchal, Pandey is deputed at Baruhatu, 40km from state capital in Maoist-hit Bundu. He claimed more than 200 JAP and Jharkhand Jaguar jawans in the jungle camps were suffering due to poor management.

“There is a well and a hand pump in my camp. While drawing water from the well is difficult in the absence of a motor, the hand pump spews dirty water most of the time,” said Pandey.

“The generator too isn’t proper. We are only provided with diesel and have to pay from our pockets for the lubricant. We end up spending Rs 140 for lubricant daily,” he said, adding: “We have complained to everyone, from Bundu OC to Ranchi SP, but in vain.”

Ajay Harishchand, a constable from the same battalion, is also down with malaria and jaundice. His picket is at Rangamati, about 250km from the capital in Musabani block of East Singhbhum.

Getting clean drinking water is a Herculean task at his camp. Boiling water isn’t easy either. “We have to trek 4km to bring firewood for which we pay from our pocket,” he said.

Quick medical aid is a distant dream in case of ailments. The nearest hospital from the picket is 60km away. “I had to book an auto for Rs 600 to go to a private hospital at Haldipokhra when I fell ill this time,” Harishchand said.

Constable Rohit Sharma of Mahabandhi picket in Ghatshila, had more to add. “One has to devote 30 minutes to fetch a bucket of water. The hand pump water is dirty.”

JAP sources said at least 11 jawans were suffering from malaria or jaundice. “Seven are admitted to JAP hospital in Doranda, besides the four at RIMS,” a constable said.

Confronted, IG (provision) N.P. Singh said he “had not received any complaint” on lack of basic amenities in forest camps. “Besides, if a few jawans among 40,000 fall ill, it does not suggest mismanagement of any kind,” he added.