14-year old surrendered Maoist now wants to pursue studies

One week after having surrendered before a court in Ghatsila, teenaged Maoist Barun Munda has pleaded before the Jharkhand police to help him pursue studies and claims to have been 'trapped' by the ultras.

During police interrogation, 14-year-old Barun, formerly a student of VIth standard at Jamua, expressed his keen desire to continue studies, the superintendent of police (rural), Ranjit Prasad said today.

Barun deposed himself before the court of additional chief judicial magistrate, Ghatsila a week back and was named accused in the incidents of killing two persons in Ghatsila few months back and blowing up of rail tracks near Dalbhumgarh during the bandh called by the ultra-left outfit early this year.

The SP said the boy made the unusual request when the district police took him on a three-day remand for grilling on Thursday. He was sent back to jail on Friday last.

Prasad said Barun, a resident of Jamua village in the sub-division, had forcibly been taken away by the Ghorabandha squad of the outfit.

A nephew of hardcore Maoist Phogra Munda, he was in the squad for about a year and generally asked to do errands like carrying their fire-arms, preparing food except on particular 'assignments like murder or act of sabotage on specific days.'

The boy claimed before the cops that he was lured by the ultras since he wanted to earn fast bucks 'for studies'.

Barun had made up his mind to flee from the group after the Maoists repeatedly refused to pay him, the SP said.