Maoists kill Jharkhand villager

EAST SINGHBHUM - Banned Maoists killed a villager in Ghumandi village in Jharkhands’s East Singhdhum district on Thursday late evening.

The victim Sagar Mahato (38) was a Gram Suraksha Samity member. In many of the villages in Naxal affected Jharkhnad state the villagers formed anti-Naxal committees to guard life and property.

Mahato, along with team members was on night duty when around 10-12 armed Maoists attacked and fired indiscriminately.

The incident occurred on the day when Jharkhand’s new Chief Minister Shibu Soren discussed the strategies of anti Naxal operation with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi.

Soren ruled out any difference with the Centre on the issue of controlling Maoist violence and expressed his resolve in checking the menace.

“There has been a decision from the Central Government on sending forces for ‘Operation Green Hunt”. We also have that force. We welcome them,” Soren said..

Meanwhile, Chidambaram reiterated his stance that anti-Naxal operations would continue till Naxalites abjure violence and come forward for talks.

“If they wish to come for talks after abjuring violence, they are welcome. If there is no response to the offer, the anti-Naxal strategy, being formulated, will continue,” he said.

Chidambaram is scheduled to chair Chief Minister’s meeting to review anti Naxal operation in Kolkata on February 9. (ANI)