Police have announced cash rewards for villagers if they
come forward with information regarding Maoists and help security forces thwart
any subversive design of rebels in the run-up to the general elections.
Jharkhand additional director-general of police (ADG),
special branch, Rezi Dungdung, in his letter sent yesterday to superintendent
of police (SP) Jitendra Singh, said cooperation of rural masses was very
important in the fight against Naxalites and thus cash rewards must be given to
villagers to encourage them to come forward to help police.
Police sources said an informer would receive a cash reward
of Rs 40,000 if his or her tip-off led to seizure of explosives weighing over
11kg. A tip-off about 6-10kg explosives will fetch Rs 25,000 and 5kg will yield
Rs 10,000.
Similarly, a villager may earn Rs 10,000-25,000 for
providing information about AK-47, AK-57, light machine gun and other automatic
weapons.
“In remote areas, every villager knows each other by face.
So, the residents can easily spot a new face in the area,” said a senior police
officer, adding villagers could easily sniff any Maoist activity in their area.
Moreover, he said, paramilitary personnel were outsiders
and they did not have minute knowledge of the topography of these difficult
terrains. “So local villagers play a crucial role in anti-rebel operations,” he
argued.
Stressing on better relation with the rural masses, the ADG
also directed the Bokaro police to ensure informers’ identities were strictly
protected.
“Several police informers were killed because police
couldn’t protect their identities. As a result, villagers often shy away
from passing on any tip-off to police,” said another senior officer.
Speaking to The Telegraph, the Bokaro SP said he had received
the ADG’s directive and started working on the mission.
“Villagers will be given cash rewards immediately. We are on
this job very seriously,” he said.
Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1140404/jsp/jharkhand/story_18153236.jsp#.Uz42S9ySyz4
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