Colourful posters are being pasted at all public places and government buildings, including schools. The posters mainly cover the 12 points aiming to expose the true face of Naxalites.

It reads: “They take away food meant for your children. They prevent your kids from getting educated by stopping construction of schools. They take away your children in the name of struggle and later either leave them in forests, sexually exploit them or financially exploit them”.

The posters explain how Naxals impede development as their fear keep doctors, engineers, teachers and other government staff away from the areas.

Nearly 2,000 posters have been printed and are being pasted by cops on combing duty.

“The posters are a part of three-point agenda of the police to tackle the Naxal menace, which includes saving our own security personnel, winning over tribals and consequently eliminating extremists in the area,” Superintendent of Police (Sonebhadra) Ram Kumar told The Indian Express on Friday.

“Our combing parties have been instructed to paste these posters at all public places in the Naxal-infested forests, while on combing duty,” he added.

The campaign is being financed by Security Related Expenditure (SRE) Scheme of the central government. A group of writers, poets and other intellectuals are helping the police in scripting anti-Naxal and pro-police songs.

“The educative posters are aimed at reducing the degree of involvement of tribals with Naxals and if the idea clicked, it will also mar the recruitment plans of the extremists. Three of the leaders — Munna Pal, Shatrughan and Lalvrat — are reported to be active in the region to recruit more youngsters,” he said.

“The Naxals are active in the region since 1997. But unlike the fiery scene in Chhattisgarh, the extremists move in groups of 10 to 15 in this district. Hence, we do not need any armed public struggle like Salva Judum here, but a slow educative movement is necessary for the tribals. And therefore, the poster war has been launched,” Kumar explained.