16,000 posters in five worst Left Wing Extremism affected districts, having all information about the 12 wanted Maoists and bounty announced on their heads, have been put out by Jharkhand Police

RANCHI: Putting a foot forward towards eradication of red rebels from the State, Jharkhand Police on Friday, launched pamphlet war against Maoists under which 16000 posters in five worst Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts, having all information about the 12 wanted Maoists and bounty announced on their heads with an assurance that their name and identity will be kept a secret.

According to police, the drive was launched under Psychological Operations to mount all-round pressure on the red rebels. Psychological operations (PSY OP) are planned operations to convey selected information and indicators to audiences to influence their emotions, motives, and objective reasoning, and ultimately the behaviour of governments, organisations, groups, and individuals. "Currently, the drive has been started in the five worst LWE affected districts - Garhwa, Palamu, Latehar, Lohardaga and Gumla which may be extended further to other Naxal infested districts in the State," said IG (Operations) and Jharkhand Police Spokesperson Ashish Batra. As many as 16000 pamphlets were dropped in a day from helicopters in the interiors of five districts on Friday, he added.

"It is an effort to make people living in these areas aware against the dreaded Maoists wherein they are being requested to inform local police about these Maoists against which they will be paid the bounty announced on their heads, keeping their names and identity a secret," said Batra.

In addition to that, properties of Maoists are also being seized, besides launching of anti-Maoist operations in these areas, he added. Poster include the names of hard core Maoists - infamous politburo member Sudhakaran of Telangana having an award of Rs 1 crore on his head, his wife Nilima (Rs 25 lakh), Bhwani alias Sujata (Rs 10 lakh) of Andhra Pradesh, Ravindra Ganjhu (Rs 10 lakh) of Latehar, Birsai alias Saketh Singh alias Umesh Ganjhu (Rs 10 lakh) of Latehar, Balram (Rs 10 lakh) of Latehar, Buddheshwar Oraon (Rs 15 lakh) of Latehar, Chandrabhushan Yadav (Rs 10 lakh) of Latehar, Chotu Singh Kherwar (15 lakh) of Latehar, Mrityunjay Bhuiyan (10 lakh) of Chatra, Sarvjit Yadav (Rs 15 lakh) of Chatra and Umesh Yadav (Rs 25 lakh) from Jahanabad in Bihar.