Our Bureau/

Only fault of 27 year-old Rajesh Kol some 4 year ago was that he was the younger brother of one Rakesh Kol, a  noted former Maoist ;  member of the armed squad of Birbal Murmu and Jay Paswan.

And for that mistake, becoming brother of a veteran Maoist, he was arrested by Banka police on 2014 as Rakesh Kol and since than he has been languishing inside Banka jail virtually for not committing crime. On the otherhand, after arresting of an ‘innocent’ youth in the name of a veteran Maoist, concerned cops were busy in celebrating the event. Hardly any of them could have remember the great ‘sin’ committed by their parts !

However, now it is the turn of Banka police to face  embarrassing situation with the arresting of Rakesh Kol originally.

Jamui police recently on November 1, arrested the former Maoist, Rakesh Kol from Bagdhaswa, a remote inaccessible village located on the border of Banka-Jamui and falling under Behar PS in Banka. With this arresting it clearly established the fake arresting by Banka police. “Banka police forwarded Rajesh to the jail at that time in the name of Rakesh and he has been languishing in the jail,” said a cop in the team of Jamui police which conducted the raid at Bagdhaswa village on November 1 last.

Innocent childhoods in remote village.

Superintendent of police Jamui, Jayantkant claimed that Rakesh, a sharp shooter who worked with noted rebels like Birbal Murmu and Jay Paswan has been wanted by the police since long in connection with several incidents. Jayantkant who conducted the raid, claimed  that Rakesh was arrested from the forest covers of Bagdhaswa and huge arms and ammunitions were also recovered from his possession.

However villagers rejected Jayantkant’s concocted  claims : “Rakesh recently returned to the village with his wife who is also a former Maoist and two minor sons. He was staying separately from his family in a hat with wife and children. He left the rebels earlier and earing livelihoods by daily wage labour in other cities. He was picked up by the police from his hut and at that time police didn’t find any arms from his possession”.

Villagers further said younger brother, Rajesh who was living in the village with his mother Kameshwari , was innocent and didn’t had any connection with the rebels. “But when police arrested him as Rakesh, we objected. Even we went to nearby CRPF camp. Rajesh was brutally tortured by police for saving his life, he was compelled to hide his actual identity and admitted himself as Rakesh,” many villagers told on condition of anonymity.

Kameshwari too claimed that her son, Bishnudev was arrested by police recently from his hut  recently as Rakesh Kol. “I don’t have any child in the name of Rakesh. We are not in position to protest such acts by the police,” she expressed helplessness. Her elder son, Jit Kol stay outside the village.

Superintendent of police, Banka, Chandan Kushwaha was not available for his comment. According SHO, Belhar, Gautam Buddha, as per police record one Rakesh Kol was arrested by Banka police on 2014 who presently locked inside Banka jail.

Amid sylvan clam .

When asked Sushil Man Singh Khopde, inspector general police, Bhagalpur zone about the fate of innocent Rajesh Kol, he said that since he came to know the incident first time, will conduct enquiry. Khopde also assured for proper justice to any innocent person like Rajesh if his case proved to be true.

Such incidents of arresting of Rajesh indicates police highhandness which is also one of the most important cause for failure of countering Maoists menaces in the hinterlands of Bihar, said Dhrub Kumar, a social activist at Banka. A former SHO of Belhar PS who still known among the villagers for his outstanding services in eliminating rebels and also protecting innocent villagers in the remote areas expressed serious concerned.

“I too witnessed many such events when influential leaders or people in the areas tried to create pressure for implementing some innocent people in the name of Maoists for their vested interests. But I somehow managed things and helped many village youths for managing their better livelihood opportunities. But it’s very unfortunate and such incidents compelled people living remote in such inaccessible areas to shift their royalties to the rebels’ camps,” was cryptic comment of the cop.