By IANS
Ranchi : At least 30 people have died in Jharkhand in the last six months as fighting between rival criminal gangs has escalated into a major conflict, police said.
Fighting was taking place between three gangs led by criminals Jaynath Sahu, Dinesh Gope and Bimal Oraon in Ranchi and Gumla district.
"These groups are basically fighting for supremacy to run the extortion industry. But economic factor has joined hands with social and political factors," R.C. Kaithal, additional director general of police, told IANS.
"Initially police did not take the issue seriously but later it snowballed into a caste war," said Kaithal.
Police officials said local politicians are supporting the three gangs on the basis of caste.
Soon after Madhu Koda took charge as the chief minister last September, the gang led by Jaynath Sahu allegedly killed nine tribals in Gumla district. Tileshwar Sahu, the then chairman of the Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB), was arrested on charges of hatching the plot.
The Sahus and tribals are at daggers drawn with each other in the rural areas of these two districts. Jaynath Sahu was allegedly extorting money from tribal people in village markets. Many tribal people opposed the extortion bid leading to the killings.
Dinesh Gope and Bimal Oraon were two trusted lieutenants of Debkumar Oraon, a criminal. Debkumar died in 2003 and the two parted ways after differences cropped up between them.
Jaynath enjoys the support of the Sahu and Tele community while the Yadav community backs Dinesh and Bimal Oraon is a tribal.
The power of the three gangs can be assessed from the fact that no development work can take place without their influence. The contractors supported by them grab all the contracts.
"Contractors are also divided on caste lines. Murder takes place in course of grabbing contract work. If a group of contractors manage to get a contract then the other groups extort money to guarantee smooth work. The refusal to give money leads to killing," said a police official.
According to the police, the three gangs earn more than Rs. 500 million a year through extortion.