On 15 August, while the country was celebrating Independence Day, Communist Party of India- Maoist (CPI-Maoist) members unfurled black flags reportedly at three different locations in Jharkhand. Left-wing extremists also distributed pamphlets mentioning threats to eliminate police informers in Jharkhand.

According to Hindustan Hindi daily, black flags were unfurled by CPI-Maoists members at the National Highway — two in, Kitahatu and Ulihatu areas of Jharkhand’s Khunti district. These three areas are Maoists dominated areas.

Jharkhand police claimed to recover flags and pamphlets from Topachanchi of Dhanbad, but failed to recover pamphlets and black flags from other two places.

“When the force reached there, they did not find any evidence that black flags were unfurled. We are inquiring into it,” said sub-divisional police officer of Khunti, Ranvir Singh. Khunti superintendent of police Anish Gupta maintained a similar line, “Nothing has been confirmed so far. We are inquiring into the matter.”

The reports come barely days after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for several developmental projects at Ulihatu in Khunti, the native village of freedom fighter and tribal icon Birsa Munda.