LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, Feb.26: Security personnel engaged in an anti-naxal operation for the last 17 days in Bulbul Forest and adjacent areas under Peshrar thana, about 70km from state capital under Lohardaga district arrested two more Maoist guerillas, Balak Ganjhu and Sudarshan Bhuiya. Each of the guerillas arrested carries a bounty of Rs 5 lakh.
Apart from this, the security personnel also recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from Harkatta forest. The fire weapons include LMG and INSAS rifles besides semi-automatic rifles, three not three and three-fifteen rifles.
Earlier, the security personnel had arrested as many as nine Maoists and killed one. The list of nine Maoists arrested includes Balram Oraon, who carries a bounty of Rs 10 lakhs. Other Maoists include Shailendra Nagesia, Ravindra Ganjhu’s wife Lalita Devi, Markush Nagesia, Viren Korwa, Mukesh Korwa, Shaileshwar Oraon, Balram Oraon, Sheela Kherwar and Dashrath Kherwar.
Apart from this, the security personnel earlier also recovered one INSAS rifle, 315 bore rifle, one American rifle, one pistol, 1678 live bullets, 21 magazines, and many other items.
This is for the first time security personnel have arrested such a big number of Maoists and recovered arms and ammunition from their possession in one stretch. Earlier in the year 2018, 11 weapons were recovered in Giridih.
IG (operation) AV Homkar and Ranchi zonal IG Pankaj Kamboj gave information at a press conference held at Ranchi zonal IG office. During the conference, DIG (STF) Anoop Birtharey, Lohardaga SP, Latehar SP and officers of CRPF were also present.
Details of the operation
February 10: There was an encounter during the search operation, about 50 rounds of bullets were fired from both sides.
February 11: Dilip Kumar and Narayan Das, two soldiers of the CoBRA battalion, were injured in an IED blast in Bulbul forest during the search operation.
12 February: IED blast again in Bulbul forest, Cobra battalion jawan Tomin Kumar was injured.
February 13: Firing between police and Naxalites. About 50 rounds of bullets were fired from both sides. In the search operation, the police found many explosive items including weapons, bullets of Naxalites.
14 February: Search operation was conducted in the marine forests of Ghaghari, Gotak and Latehar border areas at different places along with Bulbul forest. Bunker found.
February 15: Search operation was conducted in Bulbul forest.
February 16: Encounter between Maoist and police in Bulbul forest, in which a Naxal was killed.
February 19: Nine Naxalites arrested including one million prize.
26 February: Five lakh prize boys Ganjhu and Sudarshan Bhuyan were arrested and 23 weapons were recovered.