Jharkhand farmers forced to leave cultivable land due to Maoist threat

Palamu (Jharkhand), Sept 17 (ANI): Five farmers in Kadal village in Jharkhand's Palamu district were forced to leave their recently purchased land, as the Maoists staked a claim to it under the Red cauldron.

The Maoists have reportedly taken over acres of land in the region, even the piece of land in question, had been taken over by them 20 years ago. And as per their instructions, the land would be used as a playground for children.

The five farmers had bought the land some time back and following the rains had started to cultivate it.

"We had started cultivating the land. But one day, the Maoists came and interrogated us. We told them that if it was their land we were ready to give away the land," said Krishna Mehta, one of the farmers.

Maoists have been giving some of the illegally acquired land to the landless for farming while the rest lies barren.

The particular piece of land was community property before the Maoists acquired it."People used to come here from various places to play and also practise for the police selections. The Maoists had come here and said that we must leave the land and we had to," said Ayodhya Yadav, a farmer.

The farmers also alleged that the Maoists beat them up.

Jharkhand has turned into a major Maoist hub in the country. The red ultras have the dominance in 18 of the 24 districts of the state.

They force poor people to join their ranks and train them in carrying out hit-and-run attacks. They even try to carry it forward as a family tradition by teaching their children the same tactics.

The rebels often attack government establishments and extort money from businessmen and government officials to run their network. (ANI)