Maoists lift eight- month long ban in Jharkhand villages, want children to join cause

Chuck (Jharkhand), Aug 23 (ANI): Maoists lifted the eight-month long economic and transport ban from 18 villages in Jharkhand's Palamu district.

However villagers are concerned over the efforts of Maoists to recruit local children to join their cause .

The members of Communist Party of India (Maoists) had banished all economic activities and the movement of vehicles through the villages since January this year, following the setting up by the Central government of a paramilitary India Reserve Battalion (IRB) camp in Chuck village.

The ban has been lifted by the Maoists. "We are very happy today. The whole village is happy. The ban imposed by the Maoists since January 1 on transport services will be lifted from tomorrow," said Jawahar Gupta, a local of Chuck village.

Closed shops and lack of transport facilities had affected the day-to-day activities.

Many people in the villages died due to medical emergencies and a lack of conveyance facilities.

"The BKP (Bharatiya Communist Party) Maoists have removed the economic blockade. The ban has been lifted after eight months.

People are very happy," said Lalwati, a resident of Chuck. By Girija Shankar Ojha (ANI)