RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Oct.1: Security personnel engaged in anti-Naxal operations today recovered an INSAS rifle with several rounds of bullets besides other items of daily use of Maoists from remote forests in Chatra.
The recovery took place after a joint team of Jharkhand Jaguar, CRPF and district police laid siege over the partition of the forest after getting information regarding the presence of Maoist Gautam, who carries a bounty of Rs 25 lakh on his head, with his squad.
“Sensing the presence of police, Maoists opened fire and an encounter started. During the encounter Maoists despite sustaining injuries escaped taking advantage of the dense forest leaving guns and other items,” a police official said.
After liberating Burha Pahar from Maoists, security personnel engaged in operations against Maoists are upbeat and they are not giving any chance to Maoists to stay anywhere and carry out their activities. They have intensified their operation.
Though the police officials are not in a position to say how long it will take to liberate the entire Jharkhand from Maoists, their operations suggest that they are intended to do so as early as possible.
Recently during a meeting at state police headquarters, it had come to the fore that the Maoists’ influence has reduced to only eight districts including Chatra. Apparently, today’s operation is an indication of the beginning of the work to weaken them in Chatra.
