Maoists get brazen, put price on Jharkhand DGP’s head

The Maoists have put a price on the head of senior-most policeman of Jharkhand and one of his colleagues and want policemen to claim the booty. Subhash Pathak reports.

The Maoists have put a price on the head of senior-most policeman of Jharkhand and one of his colleagues and want policemen to claim the booty. They have promised Rs 15 lakh each for assassinating Director General of Police (DGP) VD Ram and Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) MS Bhatia.

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According to villagers, a handwritten poster found stuck on the wall of the S S Plus 2 School in Bundu, in Ranchi district, six days ago said, “Any policeman who kills the DGP and SSP can claim the amount from the CPI (Maoist).”

The poster was taken off a couple of days ago.

Three months ago, the Naxals had killed Janata Dal (United) legislator Ramesh Singh Munda at the same spot. Sources say the poster appears to be in retaliation to a plan to award information leading the security forces to the extremists.

“We have listed at least 60 notorious Maoists and proposed awards for informers. The proposal is pending with the home department,” an IG- rank officer said.

IG (operation) DK Pandey, however, said the poster was an attempt to draw media attention. “This is nothing but a propaganda. If the media refrain from reporting such issues and becoming their mouthpiece, I assure that Maoists will become history in the next six months or so.”