Jamshedpur: Acting on a tip off that PLFI leaders Kishan Gope and Jidan Gudiya must be hiding in Manmaru forest, the security forces comprising Chaibasa police and Jharkhand Jaguar opened fire in the forest area under the jurisdiction of Bandgaon police station in West Singhbhum. Officials informed that the operation that lasted for half an hour, a few ultras were also injured.
A police official said that an encounter took place between security forces and PLFI ultras in Manmaru forest under the jurisdiction of Bandgaon police station late Friday evening. He informed that after several rounds of firing, the Naxals fled deep inside the forest.
“After search operation, we found blood stains at the area and we suspect a few ultras might have been injured. However, we have not recovered anybody so far. However, we have recovered ammunition like MG rifle, .315 rifle, 6 country-made 9 mm pistol and 169 cartridges, he informed.
Officials informed that the police team was led by Assistant Superintendent of Police cum Chakradharpur Sub-Divisional Police Officer Nathu Singh Meena and six other police officials. Soon after the incident, additional police force is seen at the encounter site and security forces are camping at the spot.
Another official said: “The police received secret information that some ultras of banned outfit along with leader Kishan Gope are hiding. Acting on a tip-off we succeeded in surrounding them. After intelligence reports alerted us we formed a team of district police and other security forces for this operation and successfully executed it. However, the notorious ultra managed to escape”.
Sources informed that the police have decided to ensure strict vigil and deploy additional security forces in the fringe areas. “Security has been beefed up in the area and they were keeping strict vigil on movement of the Naxalites. The plan is to keep a tab on the camps being operated by ultras,” said another official. Police said that the security has been beefed up in the area and they were keeping strict vigil on movement of the Naxlites. “There has been a substantial increase in Maoist activities in this. We are not much concerned about small acts of violence because these activities can be controlled by us, but the bigger attacks are worrisome,” said a security official.
It may be mentioned here that Bandgaon is a part of rebels’ corridor in the district of West Singhbhum. The place is covered with dense jungle, the ultras consider it a safe place for holding meetings or organising training camps on a regular basis.
