Villagers demand access to portable drinking water in Maoist-affected Purulia

Purulia, Feb 13 (ANI): Villagers in the Maoist-hot bed of West Bengal's Purulia District have complained against the lack of portable drinking water, as hazardous wastes from a variety of sources have contaminated the ground water resources.

Residents complained that they often suffer from infections and diseases by consuming unhygienic water available in the region and demanded access to clean drinking water.

Villagers have to cover long distances to collect water from springs, which is the only source of water available to them.

Locals also flayed the police authorities and administration for suspecting them of shielding the Maoist rebels active in the region.

"Sometimes we fall ill after drinking this water and then we have to visit nearby Kerua Hospital. Police have threatened us saying that we are working for Maoists but we told them that we live with our children and do not supply food to Maoists nor we have seen them in our area. Government officials have not visited our areas till now," said Malati Sahis, a resident.

The Maoist insurgency has gripped nearly a third of the country in its violent tentacles, 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, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa. (ANI)