PAKLIHAWA-To protect themselves from possible Maoist attack, the vigilante committee here has planted hundreds of landmines in all wards. Since last week, vigilantes have begun planting 170 landmines in each ward. The villagers are afraid to live in the area for fear that they might either die in a landmine explosion or be caught in a battle between the security forces and the rebels. "We have planted 1,500 landmines," said the Vigilante Committee's District Chief Murari Pahalman Kusbaha, "If we want, we can blow them all up at a touch of the switch." Kusbaha and the members of the committee have warned the villagers from telling anyone about the landmines. The explosives are brought in from India and made in the village itself. "We put together the detonator, metals and wood chips to build the landmines," said Kusbaha. Chief Village Administrator Niranjan Baral said he did not have any information regarding the landmines.