The JAP picket on a slag mound at Narsing Ispat in Chowka. Telegraph picture

Jamshedpur, April 13: Some lessons are never learnt.

Despite logistical disadvantages proving fatal for state security forces in the past, the Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP) has set up a picket at a Chowka factory that will make all 40 personnel sitting ducks in case of a Maoist attack.

The picket on a 15ft slag mound at Narsing Ispat Private Limited — a plant 25km from here and targeted by rebels more than once — was set up three days ago. It is surrounded by hills that are 150ft high and will give Maoists an edge during an attack.

Moreover, the JAP jawans are armed with only self-loading-rifles (SLRs), Insas rifles and 9mm pistols compared to AK-47s, Insas assault rifles and other sophisticated weapons used by rebels.

The good news, however, is that the intelligence machinery has taken note of the flawed location and reported the matter to the Seraikela-Kharsawan police. It has also stressed on the need for a watchtower on the hills to keep an eye on rebel movement.

An armed CPI(Maoist) squad had swooped on Narsing Ispat on March 23, resulting in an encounter in which a police constable was killed. The rebels had also planted a powerful can bomb beneath a culvert on the approach road to the plant, but the same was detected in the nick of time.

This was the third attack on the steel plant that prompted the management to seek security cover.

The Seraikela-Kharsawan district administration responded with 40 JAP jawans who have obtained special guerrilla combat training.

Chowka has been a hotbed of Maoist activity with rebel top gun Kundan Pahan and his assistant Chand Mahto holding sway over the area.

Seraikela-Kharsawan SP Abhishek confirmed a JAP picket at Narsing Ispat, but carefully dodged queries on its security “The forces are deployed on a temporary basis, and there is always scope of improvement,” he said.