Maoist fear during Jharkhand village council election, tourism affected

GHATSHILA - Fear of Maoists has affected the village council elections and the tourism sector in Ghatshila.

Tourists, mostly from West Bengal, arrive to Ghatshila located on the banks of River Subarnarekha. The place is known for its scenic beauty.

According to residents, the tourism business is getting affected due to the ongoing village body polls in Jharkhand.

“There used to be tourists before the polls but as soon as the polling started, the tourists stopped coming. The tourists especially from West Bengal stopped coming as Jharkhand is passing through (village council) elections and so the tourists are scared. As elections, at any level here, mean violence,” said Singra Murmur, a resident.

Apart form the elections the other factor is the fear of Maoists in the region.

The recent incidents of violence in the region have deterred the tourists.

“Yes, Maoists are definitely a reason for the dip in tourism.

People are not able to understand what does the Maoists want. They are friends or foes? They are not able to make the people understand whether they are against the system or the people,” said Mithleshwar, a professor. By Girija Shankar Ojha (ANI)