Suspected Maoist supporters beaten up in Jharkhand

JAMSHEDPUR - Threatened by Maoists, villagers of Jharkhand’s Dalma district beat up fellow villagers whom they suspected of supporting the rebels.

Three suspects identified as Mahesar Singh, Mann Govind Singh and Phulmaali Singh were accused of giving details of villagers to the Maoists and posing a threat to them.

All the villages come under Dalma district and their residents gather for meetings organised by the Dalma District Defence Committee. The committee members have assured all villagers that they should not fear the Maoists, but retaliate against them.

Committee members have urged the villagers to punish those people they suspect of helping the Maoists.

“We will search for the Maoists in every nook and corner of the village and even inside the forests, and wherever we will find them, we are going to kill them because when we hand them over to the police, Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren releases them,” said Hari Kesto Gurai, a villager.

The villagers have indicated they have no faith in the state government or the Maoists.

“Our motive is to flush out the Maoists from here. We won’t let them loiter in Dalma region. Maoists shall go back from where they came, be it from Bangladesh or from any other foreign region,” said Jalan Mardhi, another villager.

Most Maoist rebels have ignored repeated calls from the central and state governments to renounce violence and negotiate. (ANI)