Jharkhand anti-Maoist forces fight government apathy

RANCHI - More than a year after the centre sent six senior paramilitary officers to Jharkhand for anti-Maoist operations, the state government has still not formulated their service conditions, thus denying the officers facilities like insurance and higher pay.

The deputy commandant-rank officers were sent to six Maoist-infested districts in October 2009 as Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs).

Aporva, Vijar Kumar and Shambhu Kumar of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were posted in Ranchi, Khuti and Chaibasa, respectively, while Sanjay Kumar, Ronald Johar Hansda and Sani Alok Tigga of the Border Security Force (BSF) were, respectively, posted in Giridih, Palamau and Gumla.

But with their service conditions yet not framed, not only are the officers not getting the additional pay meant for personnel deputed in Maoist areas, they are not even entitled to insurance and other facilities.

“Who will look after our family if we are killed during operations,” Ronald Johar Hansda told IANS over phone Thursday.

“We raised the issue several times with senior officials. We were assured that the government will look into the issue, but nothing has happened yet,” he said.

CRPF officer Vijay Kumar is not even receiving his salary for the last three months.

“I do not know the reason. We raised the issue several times, but every time we were told the issue will be resolved in a week,” he said.

Some officers have even said they would prefer to go back to their parent cadre.

A total of 20 out of Jharkhand’s 24 districts are facing Maoist insurgency.