By IANS,
Patna : More policemen were killed than Maoist rebels in over 100 gun battles in Bihar in the last five years, police officers said here Friday.
A police officer in the state home department said that in the last five years, there had been 130 shoot-outs in Bihar between the police and the activists of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist), in which 76 policemen and 63 rebels were killed.
In the most recent gun battle that occurred Thursday, Maoists killed a policeman and injured two others before escaping with their arms and ammunition.
The break up of the police fatalities in the last five years was three in 2004, 22 in 2005, eight in 2006, 23 in 2007 and 20 in 2008 till now, while for the rebels, it was three in 2004, 15 in 2005, six in 2006, 10 in 2007 and 29 in 2008.
The Maoists’ area of influence has spread across the state and the rebels are now equipped with modern and sophisticated arms and ammunition.
In rural areas of the state, no one dares to violate the diktats of the rebels due to fear of retribution. The CPI-Maoist, with its strong network and armed personnel, rule unhindered and even the police and government officials are afraid of them.
In rural Bihar, complaints of Maoist extortion during construction and development work are common, often forcing stoppage of projects.