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Journalism of Courage
The police have stepped up vigil in Jharkhands Latehar district following recent attacks and a bandh call by those claiming to be Peoples Liberation Front of India PLFI cadres. It is alleged that the cadres were behind the killing of a Kesalpur panchayat member Athnas Ba in Simdega district on February 24.
He was accused of being a member of the Mangal Nagesia-led gang that left the PLFI some time ago, said Simdega SP Prabhat Kumar. Though panchayat members here are often caught between the administration and the Left-wing extremist,the police this time is treating Bas murder as a result of personal rivalry.
A bandh was called on February 23-24 in Latehar and Palamu districts. On the night of February 23,the PLFI attacked and set fire to a hotel near NH-75,attacked its owner and burnt down vehicles, said Garhdeshi. The PLFI,like the TPC,is a breakaway faction of the CPIMaoist.
The police are calling this attack as well as that on February 20 in Latehar as one-off incidents,but are wary of the re-emergence of the PLFI in the district. This makes PLFI the third Left-wing extremist organisation to make its presence felt in Latehar,after the January 7 CPI Maoist ambush of CRPF personnel and the Tritiya Pratuti Committees February 5 firing on the SPs convoy. Eleven security personnel were killed as a result of the January 7 incident. There were no casualties on February 5.
Garhdeshi said PLFI cadres out on bail have been trying to reclaim territory. We had arrested a number of them about 18 months ago,but about 10-12 are now out on bail and trying to re-establish control, he said.
