MAOISTS BOMB STATE GOVT OFFICE BUILDING TO "SPUR" POLICE

UNCLAS KOLKATA 000218 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PGOV PHUM IN SUBJECT: MAOISTS BOMB STATE GOVT OFFICE BUILDING TO "SPUR" POLICE ACTION ON RAPE CASE REF: KOLKATA 74 ¶1. (U) Summary: On July 17th Maoists set off an explosion at a government office in Jharkhand's Bokaro district. A portion of the office building was damaged but no injuries were reported. A note left by the Maoists at the scene claimed that the explosion was in protest against the state government's inaction over the rape of a local village woman by a Bokaro police officer in June. The Maoists alleged that despite complaints being lodged, no action had yet been taken, and they also called a one-day strike on July 18. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On July 17, Maoists in the Bokaro district of Jharkhand set off an explosion at the office of the Block Development Officer. There were no injuries because the explosion occurred after office hours. A portion of the office building was damaged. Media contacts in Bokaro told Post that before the blast, some Maoists were seen by the eyewitnesses shouting slogans against the police and the Jharkhand government. Police investigating the explosion discovered a note left by the Maoists which indicated that the bomb was to protest the police's failure to investigate the June 15 rape of village woman Phulwati Devi, allegedly by a police officer. ¶3. (U) The Maoists also called a general strike on July 18. The strike disrupted many local businesses which closed for the day. State and National Highways were blocked in some areas of the district, disrupting traffic. ¶4. (SBU) A Senior Jharkhand Police official informed Post that the accused police officer has since been asked to report to district headquarters. The officer has also been relieved from his duties at Gomia police station pending an investigation into the rape allegations. Some less sympathetic media reports speculate that the victim in the case has "good connections" with Maoists and that the allegations are a ploy to undermine the authority of the police department. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: Although the rape investigation continues, this incident highlights the habitually poor state of relations between villagers and the police in Maoist-affected districts. Police are often viewed with suspicion and have a reputation of being heavy-handed or insensitive to local concerns. The Maoists have been quick to exploit these anti-police sentiments and to portray themselves as latter-day "Robin Hoods" protecting the poor villagers from the abuses of local authorities. JARDINE