Maoist splinter group hoists inverted national flag on Republic Day

Palamu, Jan 27 (ANI): Maoist splinter group, the Jharkhand Prastuti Committee (JPC), on Friday hoisted an inverted national flag in Jharkhand's Palamu District to mark their protest as the country celebrated the 63rd Republic Day.

Cadres of the JPC chose the occasion to raise protest against government apathy by hoisting two national flags, one of which was inverted.

"We would have had jobs had we reaped the benefits of freedom. We would not have been compelled to choose the path of violence. Maoists are hoisting black flags. So we are respecting the tricolour flag and rejecting the black flag, all children in the area are hoisting the tricolour," said Avinash, a JPC leader.

He added that the JPC cadres are against Maoists over the atrocities on innocent commoners and also burnt black flags to express their detest to the rebel outfit active in almost all districts of Jharkhand.

"We have made the hoisting of black flags by Maoists unsuccessful in many places, we burned the black flags to mark our protest other than shouting slogans against them. We would continue to protest against them until our last breath," he said.

Since the past few years, the Maoist rebels have stepped up their efforts against the government, targeting and damaging democratic and civil institutions of the nation, such as schools, medical centres and government property.

In spite of strong measures initiated by the Central Government to crush the ultras, the Maoist insurgency has gripped nearly a third of the country, spreading into the interiors of 20 of India's 28 states.

Maoists have also significantly increased their presence in tribal and rural regions in the affected states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa. (ANI)