We are trying to bring about a sense of security and belonging," says Arwal District Magistrate K N Jha. "Young people belonging to forward castes now have a different view. Those who are educated cannot run in fields with country-made guns in their hands shooting women and children."

He says all the private armies in the area -- like the Ranvir Sena and Pandav Sena -- are more or less finished. "The leader of Ranvir Sena, Brahmeshwar Singh, is in jail."

The Maoists, however, are a "different kettle of fish", he says. "It is a national problem. Eliminating gangs is easy."

"The Maoists don't know what they want. They call themselves Communists. But Communists have a clear goal. These people don't."

However, Jha says problems are few in the area now. "Arwal is peaceful. Aurangabad is peaceful."

But when we tell him we want to visit Laxmanpur-Bathe, he says it is not advisable. "It is getting dark. Go to Aurangabad, stay there, and return to Arwal if you want to visit Laxmanpur-Bathe."

When we ask him if the administration can provide us with a guard, he shrugs his shoulders and says, "Jawan kya kar lega?" (what can security guards do?)