The home minister and the senior home department officials, however, had 200 police personnel, along with a battalion of the central para-military forces and over two dozen bodyguards, for company.

?The night was long in the forest but it was awesome to see that people thronged the camp till 12 in the night. It is a symbol of hope for us as villagers proved that they have not sided with the rebels,? a visibly thrilled Mahto said.

Claiming that this was the first such venture by a home minister, director-general of police V.D. Ram said the police, too, were eager to build up an amicable relation with the villagers.

?The Jiyan episode will be repeated at regular intervals. The police will no longer hush up its mistakes and erring police officials will be shown the door,? said Ram.

Mahto supported his pledge and added that with political activism and empathy the rural hinterland could be retrieved from the clutches of the extremists.

For the villagers, from at least 12 villages, who had gathered at the minister?s door, pleaded for proper education facilities for their wards, and facilities of irrigation and drinking water in the area.

However, about 15 kilometres from the spot, a group of villagers laid a siege at the Dumaria block office demanding the removal of block development officer Nandkishore Gupta on charges of corruption.

Deputy commissioner Nitin Madan Kulkarni had, in fact, clearly stated that Gupta categorically refrains from performing his duty in a bid to get transferred from the extremist-ravaged area.

But Mahto also found some breathing space in the middle of a slew of grievances when the villagers had words of praise for Abid Khan, the officer-in-charge of Ghurabandha police station. A ?no-nonsense? police officer, Khan looked after the well-being of each and every villager, they said.

?Past is past and I want to start a new episode,? Mahto finally said, adding that he would visit Jiyan in April to assess the developmental activities in the area.

Sudesh marriage

One of the most eligible bachelors of the state, home minister Sudesh Mahto will tie the knot this year in April. A seemingly happy Mahto, who arrived in Jamshedpur after his Parashashan Aapke Dwar programme, revealed to The Telegraph that he has chosen his life-partner. ?Yes, I have decided to marry in April,? Mahto said while refusing to divulge further details as to whether it will be an arranged one or a love marriage.

Mahto also did not disclose the address of his would be in-laws. Mahto, till last year, was reluctant to marry on pretext that his younger sister is yet to be married. But his younger sister, based at Lagam village in Silli, got married to an engineer last year.

Mahto brushed aside the possibilities that his marriage would be a high-voltage show. ?I am a simple man hailing from rural background. I want to keep the marriage function a simple one, too,? he said.