Block development officer's release a diplomatic effort: Soren

Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren today claimed his government had achieved the release of abducted Block Development Officer (BDO) Prashant Kumar Layek through "diplomatic efforts".

"It could be termed as a diplomatic effort and not operational. Some police officers have done commendable job during the process," said an official release quoting Soren. The Dalbhumgarh BDO was released by the ultras yesterday after he was abducted on February 13.

Chairing a high-level meeting with senior IPS and IAS officers, Soren told them that reports of innocent people being implicated in false cases had come to his notice.

The police had yesterday moved a court in Jamshedpur, submitting cases of five persons to enable them to get bail.

As per conditions of releasing the BDO, the Maoists had demanded release of nine more "innocent persons" lodged in Dalbhumgarh jail.  Calling upon the senior police officials to sensitise all police stations, Soren stressed on the need for settling petty issues at local level.

Soren said some personnel in all police stations should be acquainted with local language for easy communication with the villagers.

"The police should keep better understanding with traditional village heads like Mani, Munda, Mahto and Pargana," he said. The chief minister said he was not in favour of frequent transfers of police personnel and directed the strengthening of intelligence network in the state.