Jharkhand cops on high alert ahead of Maoist bandh call

RANCHI: Police remained on high alert following a bandh call by CPI (Maoist) on January 27 in Jharkhand and Bihar. The banned outfit’s eastern region bureau called the bandh to demand better facilities for the top Maoist leader Prashant Bose alias Kisan Da and his wife Sheela Marandi, who were arrested and currently in jail. The outfit has stated that both Bose and his wife should be admitted to a hospital immediately for treatment of their ailments.
Inspector general (operations) and Jharkhand police’s spokesperson Amol Homkar said, “A high alert has been sounded across the state.Operations are underway in sensitive areas. We are keeping vigil on highways, railways and other areas of strategic importance.”
Khunti SP Ashutosh Shekhar said, “Our operations are already underway in the district because of the bandh.”
A Ranchi district police officer said all the police stations and pickets have been alerted and asked them to remain vigilant while on duty.
The CPI (Maoist) Bihar-Jharkhand Special Area Committee has also decided to observe Pratirodh Saptah (protest week) from January 21 to 26 on the same matter. It has also demanded the status of a political prisoner for Bose and his wife.
Bose and Sheela were arrested along with other Maoists from the Seraikela district on November 12. They were brought to the Birsa Munda Central jail on security and health grounds.