Chaibasa, April 14: Extremism has dealt twin blows to Saranda — Asia’s largest saal reserve. As the mercury soars and the rebels overrun the forest, the green cover shrinks. But along with the trees, even the able-bodied tribal youths have started disappearing from the villages bordering Orissa.

According to unconfirmed reports, over the past four days, over 200 youths have left Baliba, Thalkobad, Tirilposi, Bitkilsoya, Karampada, Chhotanagra and several other adjacent villages on the southern fringe of the district. Sources said fear of random arrest by the police in the wake of the Baliba massacre and subsequent interrogation and alleged torture in custody have sparked the exodus.

The political parties are worried. The post-Baliba migration has changed the ballot scenario and the parties apprehend a “scaling down” in the voting percentage. The Singhbhum reserved constituency comprises six Assembly segments — Chaibasa, Manjhgoan, Chakradharpur, Seraikela, Jagannathpur and Manoharpur and the strength of the electorate is 919,394. Of this, male voters in the age-group of 18 to 35 make up a sizeable chunk.

The deputy commissioner, West Singhbhum, told The Telegraph: “The district administration is not aware about the movement of villagers outside the forest and revenue villages. Even if it is true, then the government is not responsible for it.”

Polling in the district will be held in the second phase on April 26. However, the subdivisional officer of Sadar block, Gandur Bhagat, said the district administration was concerned about the development.

“The migration rate is high. But there is still a fortnight left for the election. The trend might be reversed,” Bhagat said.

Central observers also expect a poor turnout in the rural areas. “There is a probability of poor voting. Baliba will have a negative impact on the election,’’ a central observer said.

Opposition candidate Bagun Sumbrui of the Congress said party workers were devoting more time to the southern fringe of the district. “At present, the poll atmosphere is not favourable and party workers are camping in the affected districts,” Sumbrui said. However, he felt there was enough time left to formulate a strategy.

His rival, BJP’s Lakshman Gilua said party workers have been told to camp for more days in the troubled areas so that the “youth is not demoralised”. “A few days ago, I was campaigning in Manoharpur but I did not come across a large number of young men in my rallies,’’ he said.

Salkhan Murmu of Jharkhand Disom Party, a candidate for the Singhhbhum seat, said: “The tribals are scared of the police. They interrogate the youths and brand them Naxalites resulting in the short-term migration.”

An elderly tribal in Jagannathpur block said, “A day before the blast, the police had removed a poster put up by the rebels near Chhotanagra primary school urging villagers to boycott the election. The very next day, landmines blew up police jeeps.”

The mukhiya of Karamapada village, Birendra Munda, said the fear of the police was such that if the police arrived at a village haat, business suffered.