Administrator
21 April 2025
*Dhaba along road side on Latehar - Daltongunj road.
For decades, the dense forests of Palamau Tiger Reserve Forest held stories of isolation, fear and rule of the Maoists.
Informally known as the capital of the Maoists, this remote region of 10,0000 people in Palamau district of Jharkhand,was under the command of Left Wing terrorists.The roads and highways remained free from travellers.
No more so. Dhabas( Restaurants) have come up along road sides on these high ways and roads. The traffic was packed with bus service round the clock.
Similar dhabas were visible along the highways linking Khunti and Chaibasa, district headquarter of West Singhbhum in Jharkhand.
As per the Union Home Ministry, West Singhbhum forest area connected with Odisha and West Bengal was the only area yet to be cleared of the Maoists’ terror.
In recent past, a number of IED blasts had killed security forces. But despite the casualties suffered by security forces during the anti-ultra operations in this West Singhbhum, the state police and the CRPF were continuing with their operations in Kolhan forest, which, they claim, is the last bastion of Maoists in Jharkhand.
*Dhaba on the side of highway in Mahuwatanr located on the Netarhat- Daltongunj road.
After gaining dominance over Budha Pahar by the security forces, top Maoists including politburo member Misir Besra and central committee members Patiram Majhi and Asim Mandal have reportedly taken shelter in the thick forests of Kolhan.
Police and CRPF are carrying out joint operations in Kolhan forest to either eliminate or chase away the extremists. Since November 2022 five security personnel have been killed and 30 were injured in IED blasts.
Also, 11 villagers were killed in the explosions and four murdered by the Maoists. IG (operation) Amol Homkar said, “Due to our operations the Maoists are on the run in Kolhan. Our main objective is to free the area from the Maoists, establish the state administration dominance and clean up the entire area of IED.”
IG CRPF Rakesh Agrawal had stated, “The morale of our force is high. The days of Maoists in the state are numbered.”
Ahead of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s repeated declaration that India will become free from Maoist terrorists by March 2026, the start of night bus services on Ranchi- Latehar, Ranchi- Palamau and Ranchi- Chaibasa highways are showcasing the change in the state.
By setting up dhabas and the night bus services on these roads have not only provided employment to scores of people, especially tribals, but also generated hope of development in the state.
