By IANS
Ranchi : Fewer security personnel were killed in Jharkhand last year, but the fight against Maoist rebels continued to be intense with more civilians dying, police here said.
Only nine security personnel were killed in 2007 as compared to 43 in 2006 and 27 in 2005.
“Security forces have been alert against Maoist ambush. They have avoided travelling on non-metalled roads where Maoists plant landmines to target security personnel,” a senior police official involved in anti-Maoist operations told IANS.
However, the Maoist insurgency took its toll on civilians. In 2007, 102 civilians were killed, up from 92 in 2006 and 81 in 2005. Maoist casualties also increased with 43 rebels killed against 20 in 2006 and only seven in 2005.
At least five Maoist organisations operate in the state – the CPI-Maoist, the Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC), the Sashastra Jansangharsh Shakti Morcha (SJSM), the Jharkhand Prastuti Committee (JPC) and the Jharkhand Liberation Front (JLT).
“Maoist organisations fight among themselves for collecting maximum levy and battle for supremacy in the state. This is also responsible for the increased numbers of civilian casualties. Civilians often become targets in their infighting,” said Additional Director General of Police Gauri Shankar Rath.
The gravest Maoist attack last year took place in Chilkhari village of Giridih district. Eighteen people, including Anup Marandi, son of former chief minister Babulal Marandi, were killed when the CPI-Maoist attacked a cultural programme.
Maoist rebels are active in 18 of the 24 districts of the state. In the last seven years, more than 1,000 people have been killed.