NEW DELHI: Attack on a passenger train by Maoists may not be new to this region, but the Thursday incident appeared to be a case where the Red Ultras — who have been facing tremendous pressure in Jharkhand — preferred to turn to Bihar because the state has, of late, become a soft target in absence of major anti-Naxalite operations there.
Bihar is among the three Maoist-affected states which have shown more number of deaths in Naxalite violence in the current year as compared to the corresponding period last year. The state had reported 10 deaths in 89 incidents last year, whereas, it witnessed 24 deaths in 90 incidents in 2013.
The figures of Naxalite violence and casualties have prompted officials here in the home ministry to think that the state has been facing such a situation because it failed to carry out anti-Maoist operations in an expected manner. The assertion is, however, vehemently denied by the state police top brass.
State officials argued that had this been the case, Andhra Pradesh — which had almost eliminated the ultras from the state — would not have reported higher number of deaths. Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are the other two states which have reported more number of deaths this year as compared to what they had reported till June 13 last year.
The state officials claimed that Bihar has, in fact, been carrying out intelligence-based specific operations and been quite successful in arresting maximum number of ultras this year.
"Only killing Maoist is not a sign of big operation," said a top state police official, adding the clearing of the entire Chakarbanda area — which had once been the Maoists' stronghold where police did not even think of entering — in Gaya district is an example how the state has been doing intelligence-based operation quietly.
Incidentally, the Jamui incident on Thursday which saw killing of three persons, including an RPF jawan, and injuring five others took place exactly a week after the Railway Protection Force (RPF) had sent an alert to all its units in Naxalite-affected states, asking them to increase presence of armed personnel in trains passing through such areas and follow all the standard operating procedure of guarding the moving trains.
Officials here said the motive behind such attack was generally to attack security (RPF) personnel and loot their weapons.
Preliminary reports from the state indicated that the Jamui incident could be the handiwork of local Jan Militia (of Munger-Giridih belt), which carries out such surprise attacks at vulnerable targets including passenger trains. Since the area in Jharkhand (Giridih area) has, virtually, become non-reachable for the ultras due to continuous anti-Naxalite operations, the Jan Militia turned to Bihar.
The Centre has, meanwhile, rushed two companies (200 personnel) of CRPF to the spot to carry out a combing-cum-search operation against the Maoists who retreated into the forest after carrying out the daring daylight attack on the train.
Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said, "The CRPF and the local police have reached the spot. The operation is going on."
Condemning the attack, the minister of state for home RPN Singh said that sources of arms and ammunition have dried up for Naxalites and they have resorted to such measures. "These attacks on people and political leaders are a sign that the naxals are on the back foot," he said.
Bihar is among the three Maoist-affected states which have shown more number of deaths in Naxalite violence in the current year as compared to the corresponding period last year. The state had reported 10 deaths in 89 incidents last year, whereas, it witnessed 24 deaths in 90 incidents in 2013.
The figures of Naxalite violence and casualties have prompted officials here in the home ministry to think that the state has been facing such a situation because it failed to carry out anti-Maoist operations in an expected manner. The assertion is, however, vehemently denied by the state police top brass.
State officials argued that had this been the case, Andhra Pradesh — which had almost eliminated the ultras from the state — would not have reported higher number of deaths. Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are the other two states which have reported more number of deaths this year as compared to what they had reported till June 13 last year.
The state officials claimed that Bihar has, in fact, been carrying out intelligence-based specific operations and been quite successful in arresting maximum number of ultras this year.
"Only killing Maoist is not a sign of big operation," said a top state police official, adding the clearing of the entire Chakarbanda area — which had once been the Maoists' stronghold where police did not even think of entering — in Gaya district is an example how the state has been doing intelligence-based operation quietly.
Incidentally, the Jamui incident on Thursday which saw killing of three persons, including an RPF jawan, and injuring five others took place exactly a week after the Railway Protection Force (RPF) had sent an alert to all its units in Naxalite-affected states, asking them to increase presence of armed personnel in trains passing through such areas and follow all the standard operating procedure of guarding the moving trains.
Officials here said the motive behind such attack was generally to attack security (RPF) personnel and loot their weapons.
Preliminary reports from the state indicated that the Jamui incident could be the handiwork of local Jan Militia (of Munger-Giridih belt), which carries out such surprise attacks at vulnerable targets including passenger trains. Since the area in Jharkhand (Giridih area) has, virtually, become non-reachable for the ultras due to continuous anti-Naxalite operations, the Jan Militia turned to Bihar.
The Centre has, meanwhile, rushed two companies (200 personnel) of CRPF to the spot to carry out a combing-cum-search operation against the Maoists who retreated into the forest after carrying out the daring daylight attack on the train.
Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said, "The CRPF and the local police have reached the spot. The operation is going on."
Condemning the attack, the minister of state for home RPN Singh said that sources of arms and ammunition have dried up for Naxalites and they have resorted to such measures. "These attacks on people and political leaders are a sign that the naxals are on the back foot," he said.
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