Govt to re-investigate cases against those booked for symathising with Maoists

In pursuance of the Maoists’ demand for exchange of the kidnapped block development officer (BDO) Prashant Kumar Layak, presently posted at Dhalbhum block of the East Singhbhum district, the Jharkhand government on Wednesday ordered for re-investigation the cases of as many as 19 people lodged in Ghatshila jail for their alleged Naxal links.

In an order issued by Home secretary JB Tubid, the Jamshedpur police has been asked to reinvestigate all cases in which villagers were sent to Ghatshila jail on the charges of sympathizing with the Naxalites.

In continuance of the State Government’s step to pave the way for safe return of the kidnapped BDO, the Jamshedpur police has procured the court’s nod for re-investigate cases of four persons, Arjun Soren, Sukra Munda, Ashiwini Murmu, and Luca Mardi. All of them were lodged in the Ghatshila sub-divisional jail. They are among the 14, who according to the Maoists are innocents but implicated in false cases under various sections of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

The police also moved petitions in the Jamshedur court to get the go ahead to reinvestigate the cases against two persons, who are included in the Maoists’ wish-list. “The petition has been moved in today. However, the court is yet to take up the cases,” said Tubid.

On the other hand, Rezi Dungdung, IG, Ranchi Zone, deputed in Jamshedpur to supervise the rescue operation, got in touch with some mediators to negotiate the release of Layak. “We have received positive feelers from the Maoists and expect an early release of the officer,” said Dungdung. Sources maintained that the Maoists were having a meeting in Ghorabandha forest after they got to know about the government’s intention to review the cases against all those booked on the charges of sympathizing in Jamshedpur area.

Caving in to the pressure tactics, the State police last night released Bhogeshwar Munda and Bhanjo Munda, the fathers of two hardcore Maoists, who were detained by the police for getting the clue about the whereabouts of the kidnapped officers. Superintendent of the police (SP), East Singhbhum, Navin Singh has already been pulled out of the rescue operation going on in Ghorabandha area, the demand for which was made by the Naxals.