Once a Maoist hotbed, Saryu village on development path

Ever since Jharkhand came into being in 2000, Saryu village, a hilly and forested area, was overtaken by Maoists, as were other areas in Latehar district.

Maoist attacks were almost the order of the day in Latehar district and the non-descript village bore the brunt of it, climaxing in the attack last December on the convoy of independent MP and former Jharkhand speaker Inder Singh Namdhari.

Namdhari had escaped unhurt, but 10 policemen were killed in one of the most daring attacks by the rebels.

That was the proverbial last nail on the coffin and the security forces soon launched an all-out offensive against the rebels, destroying their bunkers at the village and elsewhere.

After the Maoists were driven out, the security forces pitched permanent camps at the village.

Union Minister Jairam Ramesh soon came calling and announced the launch of the Saryu Special Development Programme (SSDP) covering 12 Panchayats and four blocks.

The SSDP, work for which is likely to start from next October, is a part of the four-pronged strategy to deal with the Maoists - the other three prongs being political mobilisation in rural areas, social justice to tribals and security measures. MORE