Police confident of wiping out Naxal menace in Jharkhand by Mar 31

Ranchi: Following major successes against Maoists in the Saranda forest on Thursday and Friday — during which 17 ultras, including central committee member Anal Da, were killed — police on Friday said they were confident of eradicating Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) from Jharkhand within the March 31 deadline set by the Centre. Officials said that besides intensified operations, the focus would also be on encouraging extremists, particularly youths, to surrender.The Centre has set March 31 as the deadline to eliminate Left-Wing Extremism across the country. Appealing to Maoist cadres to lay down arms, CRPF inspector general Saket Singh said, “We appeal to youths who have strayed into LWE to approach any police camp or official to surrender. They will be welcomed and rehabilitated. However, they will have to pay a heavy price if they continue with the Maoists.”Stating that the morale and backbone of the Maoists had been broken, inspector general (operations) Michael Raj said police were confident of meeting the March 31 deadline.“I want to tell LWE members that police are receiving continuous inputs about their movements and are taking action accordingly. Under these circumstances, they should surrender,” he said, adding that families of ultras were also being urged to persuade them to return to the mainstream.Police claimed that Maoist strength in the state had been reduced to around 60. Of these, 40 to 50 are believed to be confined to areas under two police station limits in West Singhbhum district, while around four Maoists each are active in Chatra and Latehar districts and two in Hazaribag.Officials said the number of police stations affected by extremism in West Singhbhum had come down to two from 14—Jaraikela and Chotanagara. Operations are continuing in the affected areas, though progress has been slow due to extensive planting of improvised explosive devices by the Maoists.Police further said that among top Maoist leaders, only two—politburo member Misir Besra and central committee member Asim Mandal—remain active, while three others—Patiram (Anal Da), Vivek, and Shadeo Soren—have been eliminated.