Hundreds of people from Phulwaria-Korasi and other tribal-dominated villages in Bihar’s Jamui district have started fleeing for safety, following a Maoist attack shortly after midnight on Tuesday that left 12 villagers dead and an equal number injured.
Phulwaria-Korasi is a village of Kora tribals, around 210 km southeast of Patna.
Villagers, including those from adjoining Jansidih, Jagdishpur and Musagari villages, were seen scurrying to safety, with whatever they could carry along.
According to leaflets left behind by the Maoists, the attack was to avenge the harbouring of police informers by the villagers. The informers helped the police in the alleged killing of eight Maoist cadre, who have been missing since January 31, the leaflets claimed.
Apparently, the promise of security by the administration has failed to stop the villagers, many of whom earn a living by collecting wood from the forest and making leaf-plates, from escaping.
Phulwaria-Korasi is in the middle of a thick forest on the border of Bihar and Jharkhand
“Because of fear of another attack, we are compelled to take shelter in another village,” said Manohar Kumar Choudhary, a villager.
{{/usCountry}}“Because of fear of another attack, we are compelled to take shelter in another village,” said Manohar Kumar Choudhary, a villager.
{{/usCountry}}A three-km muddy road is the only way to reach the village. All that the village has in the name of state presence are two solar lights and a few electricity poles with missing wires.
Although residents claim they reached the Lachuar police camp 2 km away immediately, the police took two hours to reach the village — by then the Maoists had escaped.