Maoist fear looms large in Ramgarh in Jharkhand

The Maoist threat looms large in Jharkhand, leading to shut down of several factories in Ramgarh district, resulting in unemployment among youth.

The labourers working in the factories dread the ultras attacking them at the isolated sites and are reluctant to work.

uresh Mahato, a local here mentioned how industries that had begun after prolonged perseverance have now been shut due to the threats posed by Maoists.

"One decade back, small factories were functioning in the area but now all the factories are shut down. But the government is making efforts to restart or set up small factories. The reason behind the shutting down of the factories, were government policies and threat from some anti-social elements," said Mahato.

"But now, a few factories are setting up again in the region and this will help the youth get employment," he added.

Factories have been locked and machines lay dysfunctional.

On their part, the owners of the factories said that they are scared to restart work in the factory and the killing of villagers by Maoists in the district further aggravates the fear among them and the locals.

However, the village head, Sri Ram Mahato, said that almost after a decade, the industries are again being set up in the region.

"This fact cannot be rejected that this is Maoist affected area and all the Ministers and the Jharkhand Government accepts this fact. Even our village has been fully declared a Maoist affected area. When factories were set up in the area a decade ago, this idea did not work out successfully because of Maoist threat and government policies," said Sri Ram Mahato.

"But a few factories are setting up in the region and the construction work is on but still the work is too slow," he added.

The village head seemed to be optimistic and said that the work was on for setting up small factories and they would be completed soon.

Maoists have attacked many schools, hospitals, and government institutions and this offensive has severely affected the education of the children here and has brought normal life to a standstill.

According to analysts, the Maoists oppose all development activities such as the construction of roads, schools, hospitals, drip irrigation and drinking water facilities.

Contractors are killed, schools are torched, electric poles are pulled down and projects, which could lead to development, are halted. For, if development comes to the area, the Maoists fear that their support base will diminish. (ANI)