April-June 2013 - Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies

April-June 30
Commentary
Naxal Violence: The Peoples' Liberation Front of India (PLFI) in Jharkhand
Deepak Kumar Nayak
Research Officer, IReS, IPCS
The activities of the Peoples' Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a
splinter group of the Communist party of India-Maoist (CPI-
Maoist), have forced the state police to intensify operations
against them in the Gumla district in Jharkhand. Though the
state police have, on earlier occasions, launched offensives
against Left-Wing Extremist (LWE) groups other than the CPI-
Maoist, the current offensive in March 2013, recognizes the
growing threat from PLFI. From Kamdara and Basia police
station areas to Gumla, Palkot, Raidih, Ghaghra, Bishunpur
and Sisai police stations in the district, PLFI cadres have
stretched out their network and have been active in these
areas.
What is the PLFI? From where does its support emanate? Is
the state police capable enough to contain this growing
menace?
About the PLFI: Strength and Areas of Operation
The PLFI was formed in 2007 by Dinesh Gope and operated in
areas around Ranchi. After the killing of his elder brother,
Suresh Gope, in December 2003, Dinesh took charge and
extended its area of operation. Later, in July 2007, Masi
Charan Purty, a renegade of the CPI-Maoist, along with several
of his followers joined Dinesh Gope and the PLFI. Though
Purty was subsequently arrested, the PLFI grew under Gope's
leadership. Other Maoist cadres who walked out of the parent
outfit also joined the PLFI, which thus became a splinter group
of the CPI-Maoist.
Ever since, the PLFI has been wreaking havoc in Jharkhand's
Ranchi, Khunti, Simdega, Gumla, Latehar, Chatra and Palamu,
although the group claims to have extended its activities and
influence all over the State. Along with six other splinter
groups operating in Jharkhand, the PLFI have carried out more
than half the terror strikes in the state, according to a study by
the state police Special Branch. The group operates through
several 'area commanders'. An assessment by the Jharkhand
police puts the cadre strength of the outfit at 150 to 300.
Extortion from contractors engaged in development projects
constitutes the major source of income for the PLFI, and
reportedly brings in INR 1.5 billion per year. Coal traders in
districts including Latehar are also specifically targeted by the
group. Mainly involved in criminal activities and extortion, the
group collects funds by unleashing terror in the area. In the
fight for supremacy in the region, the group has also engaged
in clashes with the CPI-Maoist and other splinter Maoist
outfits including the Jharkhand Liberation Tigers (JLT) in
Jharkhand.
groups in the State. Unlike the Maoists, the PLFI has no
ideology and is only concerned with extortion and criminal
activities. Hence, joining the PLFI is, and always has been,
comparatively easy. As the main source of the PLFI's income
comes from extortion and levies, it attracts a large number of
unemployed youth, who are lured by the temptation of easy
money.
According to the Jharkhand Police, Maoist-related incidents
decreased from 65-70 per cent in 2008-09 to 44 per cent in
2012. In stark contrast, the violence perpetrated by the PLFI
has gone up to 30 per cent from 14 per cent. “Where the
Maoists are retreating, their rival groups are moving in to
occupy the space left by them. All of them are purely criminal
groups fighting over extortion and killing people if their
demands are not met,” Inspector General (law and order),
Jharkhand, S.N. Pradhan said.
Strategy to Contain the PLFI
As of 31 December 2011, the Police Population ratio
(policemen per 100,000 population) of Jharkhand was 167,
well above the national average of 137, but significantly below
the level considered necessary to deal with the State's
intricate problems of law and order, administration and
security. However, in its diligent efforts to contain the PLFI,
Jharkhand police launched an operation against the group in
Khunti, Simdega and Gumla districts in October 2012. Over 20
rebels were arrested and a huge cache of arms was seized.
Despite this, the PLFI seems to be assertive and is now
expanding its base by fanning out to new areas beyond the
home turf. In the last four years, for instance, the PLFI has
spread its tentacles to Raiboga, Birmitrapur and Hathibari
police limits and its impact was also felt in Bisra police limits in
Odisha and even in the tribal region of Jashpur in
Chhattisgarh.
The PLFI is not a bigger challenge than the Maoists, but as a
group, it is definitely growing in strength, especially at the
local level. The PLFI's menaces have grown too much over
recent years to go unobserved any further, and the present
police operations against the group are timely – though they
are yet to yield the desired results.
Ironically, the government has also been instrumental in
sustaining PLFI during its initial days, using it to counter the
CPI-Maoist. However, it appears that this strategy has
backfired; today the PLFI has become one of the major terror