Malaria forcing jawans to pull out of anti-Maoist ops

RANCHI: SEVERAL REPORTS HAVE SHOWN THAT MORE PERSONNEL DIED OF MEDICAL AILMENTS AND MOSQUITOBORNE FEVER THAN DUE TO COMBAT WITH THE REDS

Around 10 members of a 2,000-strong contingent of Jharkhand police and paramilitary forces had to be taken to hospital over suspected malaria infection, weakening a major anti-Maoist strike in a forested area where the ultras’ top cadre is holed up.

The operation, conducted jointly by Jharkhand police and the Central Reserve Police Force, in Burha Pahar region, around 200km northwest of Ranchi, began just a few days before the men fell ill, sources said.

Confirming the development, Garhwa superintendent of police Md Arshi said, “Around 10 men were referred to the Sadar hospital. A few have been discharged after treatment.” While Garhwa district civil surgeon Dr T Hembram refused to give the exact number of personnel admitted to the hospital, he said they were being given the best treatment.

“Few cases were PF positive (brain malaria). Medically, nobody is critical but in case of the forces, we admit them as a precautionary measure,” the civil surgeon said.

Several government and parliamentary panel reports have shown that more personnel died of medical ailments such as heart attacks, depression and mosquito-borne fever like malaria over the past few years than due to combat with the Reds.

“Some of the areas in the state are malaria prone, for instance Saranda belt. During operations in that area, the forces were provided with proactive medicines. Despite that, if they take ill, we provide immediate medical aid,” a Jharkhand police official said.