Giridih, Jan. 6: The Maoists run a parallel government in Giridih, virtually.

The number of FIRs lodged in 2007, at police stations falling under Maoist stronghold areas and those where they have less hold, speak for themselves.

The police stations at Pirtand, Tisri, Dumri, Gawah and Nimiaghat — all Maoist strongholds — recorded 39, 65, 72, 83 and 96 FIRs, respectively, while those at Muffassil, Town, Jamua, Bengabad and Herodih — with lesser Maoist influence — reported 423, 356, 308, 244 and 105 FIRs, respectively.

Population and area-wise, there is hardly any difference between Muffassil and Pirtand police station areas, but the latter registered only 39 FIRs, a mere nine per cent of what was recorded at Muffassil.

The probable reason could lie in the fact that Pirtand has been the stronghold of Naxalites since the late ’70s.

Parasnath Hills, the highest peak in the Bihar-Jharkhand region, also falls under this police station, where Maoists have training camps since long.

There are 16 police stations in Giridih district and most of them fall under Maoist-hit areas. While some like Pirtand, Tisri, Gawah, Dumri and Nimiaghat are in the complete grip of Maoists, others are less affected.

Experts said that the figures have remained same at these police stations since long and not just last year.

The less-affected areas claim themselves to be part of civilised society. The fewer number of cases not only prove that Maoists run a parallel government in these areas and hold jan adalats (people’s courts), but also raise fingers at the so-called civilised societies, where a large number of cases get registered.

A senior police officer posted in a rebel stronghold admitted to The Telegraph: “As soon as one comes to us with a complaint, we lodge it and start a probe. Refusing him or trying to convince him not to register a case, as practised in other police stations, would mean that he would go to the Maoists and sort out his matter though jan adalat”.

Herodih police station which covers only five panchayats, registered 105 cases in 2007. Though Bagoder block is the largest one in Giridih and has a population bigger than that of Town police station, it registered 253 cases than of Town’s 356.