In a historic moment for Bihar, Chormara village in Jamui district has been declared free from Naxal influence after more than two decades, allowing residents to vote locally for the first time in 25 years.
The development marks a major step in the state’s efforts to eradicate Naxalism and restore normalcy to areas once dominated by insurgents.
Voters in Chormara will now be able to cast their votes at Polling Station Number 220, set up at Chormara Primary School. Previously, due to severe security threats, they had to travel about 22 kilometres to Koywa School under Barhat block to exercise their franchise.
The establishment of a polling station within the village has sparked joy and relief among residents, who say the change has saved them hours of travel and symbolises a return to peace.
Locals expressed optimism that the end of Naxal control would usher in long-awaited development, including electricity, better roads and improved connectivity.
Resident Sitaram Kora expressed his happiness at being able to participate in elections again after a 25-year hiatus.
“The area was completely under the control of Naxalites. The situation was really bad before. People used to be forcibly taken; they used to come at night. Even children were taken away to join the organisation. Now people are coming back too; elections will also happen after 30 years. We are very happy that this is happening,” Kora told the media.
Attempts to conduct elections were made in 2004, including by Rajendra Singh, a resident of Munger. However, by 2005, the situation had deteriorated as Naxalites tightened their grip, kidnapping villagers suspected of being police informants and executing them in so-called ‘Jan adaalats’ or kangaroo courts.
Polling stations were attacked, forcing authorities to relocate voting booths far from the village.
In 2005, Munger Superintendent of Police KC Surendra and six others were killed in a Naxalite-triggered blast in the nearby forest area.
Another villager, Sahodri Devi, recalled witnessing extreme violence during those years.
“I have seen around 10–20 people being killed here. So many people I have seen being shot, cut up. Now, Naxalites don’t come here, the government has finished them. Now voting is going to happen after 25–30 years. We are very happy. There is no electricity, no roads, nothing now we can get those,” she told the reporters.
She also described how the Naxalite group forcibly recruited young men and women between 2005 and 2017–18, coercing them into armed rebellion. “When these people protested, they were given the death penalty after a kangaroo court trial. Women were also exploited, and the same thing happened to her child; her son was being forcibly recruited into the Naxalite organisation,” she said.
Several nearby areas, including Gurmaha, Jamunia, Bichlatola and Hanumanthan, are also gradually emerging from the shadow of Naxalism.
The Jamui Assembly constituency, which falls under the Jamui Lok Sabha seat, will go to the polls in the second phase of the Bihar Assembly elections on November 11, marking a red-letter day for Chormara’s residents. According to the Election Commission of India, the village has 488 male and 523 female electors.
Also Read : 210 Naxals surrender in Chhattisgarh
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, as of 2024, a total of 38 districts across India remain affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE), while more than 60 districts have been declared LWE-free in the last five years.
Several Bihar districts, including Arwal, Aurangabad, Banka, East Champaran, Gaya, Jehanabad, Kaimur, Lakhisarai, Munger and Muzaffarpur, have recorded significant improvements in their security situations.
Currently, Jamui is set to witness a triangular contest among Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Shreyasi Singh, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate Mohammad Shamsad Alam and Jan Suraaj Party candidate Anil Prasad Sah.
Both the RJD and Jan Suraaj Party are aiming to challenge the incumbent BJP MLA, Shreyasi Singh, in what promises to be a closely watched election.
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