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Jamshedpur, March 15 (Source: The Telegraph): It was no ordinary play. The stage was a dusty field at Rugdi in Ichagarh police station area of Seraikela Kharsawan. The time, late morning. Over 1,000 villagers, braving the scorching sun, were in attendance.
Organised by the police yesterday to spread awareness about the damage being done by Naxalites, the street play appeared to have touched a chord among villagers who skipped their usual Sunday market to come and watch.
For this venture, the Seraikela-Kharsawan police roped in a Chaibasa-based theatre group, Anupam Kala Samity, to put its idea into action.
The play started with the character of Budhan Ram, an elderly artist, taking stage. He was soon joined by his son Sujan who said the Lal Party (Naxalites) was holding a meeting in the village. Sujan added that the Lal Party would pay him a lot if he went along with it.
The next scene showed Sujan confessing to killing three innocent villagers branded “police informers”. The rebels were also shown destroying bridges and outraging the modesty of women. A disillusioned Sujan is shown returning to his father.
As the play ended, the audience seemed to heave a collective sigh of relief. It was as if the villagers were holding their breath as they watched the drama unfolding — all too close to daily reality.
Speaking to The Telegraph, superintendent of police Abhishek said while many in Patamda, Bodam and Nimdih blocks of Seraikela-Kharsawan were aware that the rebels were their enemy, the same awareness needed to be spread to other blocks as well.
Meanwhile, in East Singhbhum, the district police have started meeting villagers after dark in the red zone of Ghatshila sub-division to dispel their fear of rebels. One such meeting was held near Burudih in Ghatshila close to the Bengal border at 9pm on Saturday.
