Village groups to tackle attacks

With the police inflicting heavy casualties on the Maoists—the 25-odd deaths this year is the highest annual tally ever in the district—the latter desperate killings of civilians by the latter have been spiralling alarmingly over the past three months. In October, three persons were killed, followed by another three in November and five in December. Two of those killed in December had appeared for police recruitment tests, a reason why they were killed. As late as January 4, they killed Haridas Kurami, a 22-year-old youth, who had reportedly declared his intention to join the police force. As many as 39 civilians were killed in Naxal violence in 2006.

“It’s a matter of serious concern. There are many youths like Kurami in the interiors. We can’t protect all of them. So, we have been working on the idea of VDCs for the past four months. We have decided to spend from the security-related expenses (SRE) we receive from the Centre,” Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Shirish Jain told The Indian Express.

“The idea is to build something like community centres (Samaj Mandirs) in each of the villages aspiring to avail the incentive. An alarm system will be erected whereby villagers could be alerted about Naxalites. The villagers could then gather and ensure that the extremists don’t cause harm to anyone,” Jain explained.

The state government is already implementing the Gaonbandi scheme in the district where villages declaring “no-entry” to Naxalites are given Rs 3 lakh each as an incentive.

The idea of VDCs appears interesting, considering the fact that the state-sponsored Salva Judum campaign in the neighbouring Chhattisgarh had also started under similar circumstances.

Jain, however, hastened to add that the VDC idea has nothing in common to Salva Judum. “We are not going to arm the youths or so,” he added.

The VDC idea has been prompted by two previous experiences. Two years ago, at Bolepalli village, people had unitedly thwarted a Naxal bid to attack a local who had given his land for a police outpost. Last year, at Gundera, village women had foiled a Naxal bid to recruit village youths.

Meanwhile, the annual three-day tribal fest at Sundergad in Etapalli tehsil of the district started on low-key this year in view of the Naxal threat.

SP under threat

NAGPUR: Naxalites have threatened to kill SP Shirish Jain. Jain, who has been working in the district over the last five years, has been the Naxal target especially in view of the unprecedented reverses Naxals have suffered this year. “These threats are a routine matter. So, there is no need for alarm. We are always on our toes,” Jain said.