Maoists gone from Magadh, but hidden arms remain challenge: IG

Gaya: Claiming that Maoists have effectively been pushed out of their former strongholds across the Magadh police range, Magadh range IG Vikas Vaibhav said a major challenge now is tracing and destroying weapons allegedly hidden by the insurgents in forested and hilly areas.Speaking to this newspaper, Vikas said there had been no major Maoist-related incident in the region in recent times.

However, large quantities of weapons were believed to remain concealed in difficult terrain, making recovery operations a significant task for the police.He said the anti-Maoist campaign would remain incomplete until the entire arsenal left behind by the extremists was neutralised. “Even if some of these weapons fall into wrong hands, another problem may crop up,” he said, adding that field officers had been directed to intensify efforts to locate and recover the remaining arms.According to Vikas, weapons have been recovered from some former Maoist hideouts in recent years, but the exercise is far from over.

He cautioned against complacency, saying several factors that had contributed to the growth of Maoism had not yet been fully addressed.Identifying one such factor, Vikas stressed the need for neutral policing in rural disputes.

He said the police must act impartially and avoid taking sides with influential sections of society.

Neutral policing, he added, would play a crucial role in the final elimination of Maoism and other forms of Left-wing extremism.The Magadh region, comprising districts such as Gaya, Aurangabad, Jehanabad and Arwal, has witnessed prolonged Maoist violence and the activities of caste-based armed groups.

Some of Bihar’s worst massacres have occurred in these districts.Vikas said he had sought to strengthen public confidence in the police by keeping his office accessible to citizens who feel aggrieved by police action or inaction.

He said public grievances were heard on almost every working day.Highlighting the changing nature of crime, he said innovative policing strategies were needed to tackle emerging challenges.

Several complainants had approached him with allegations against local police personnel, and in at least half a dozen cases, action had been taken against officers, including SHOs and investigating officers.On Tuesday, a BPSC examinee from Nawada met him alleging he had been wrongly arrested and jailed for nearly four weeks.qadirtoi@gmail.comYou Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Patna | Silver Rate in Patna | Bank Holidays in Patna | Public Holidays in Patna | Patna AQI | Weather in Patna | Petrol Price in Patna | Diesel Price in Patna | CNG Price in Patna | LPG Price in PatnaStay updated with the latest Patna news.

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