Bihar: Arms licence to 61 tribals for self-defence

Sasaram (Bihar), Jan 21: Arms licences have been issued to 61 tribals for self-defence against Maoists in Bihar's Rohtas district, officials said. The licences were issued after a thorough assessment of threats from Maoists to the tribals, who have returned to their villages after living in a base camp at Chenari for several months, sources said.

"They were issued licences to instill confidence and enable them to defend themselves in the event of being attacked by Maoists," District Magistrate (DM) Anupam Kumar said. Kumar said, "Twelve of them have bought firearms and presented them to the police authorities for verification yesterday."

Superintendent of Police (SP) Manu Maharaj warned that the licences will be cancelled, if the tribals are found misusing their guns.

More than 500 tribal people left their villages in Rohtas, Nauhatta and Chenari blocks and took shelter in a base camp at Chenari after a series of attacks in July last year in Kaimur forest range in which five persons were killed, 13 others injured and 21 houses were set ablaze by Maoists.

PTI