Jamshedpur : Police and paramilitary forces have started night domination in naxal-hit Patamda and Bodam in view of the second phase of polling.
The move followed intelligence inputs that the Dalma squad of CPI – Maoist has increased its movement in the areas in remote villages of Patamda and Bodam which had almost been free from the naxal activities.
“By visiting repeatedly into any particular area, naxals will increase their influence among the villager, and the villagers,” said the officer.
He pointed out the naxals are suspected to have increased the movement keeping the elections in view of the elections which is detrimental to conducting free and fair elections here.
A senior police official said: �At the time when the election, joint operation of police and paramilitary was all essential as rebels will tend to concentrate on the Singhbhum side of the border during the time.
The joint anti-insurgency operation at Patamda,Dalma and Ghatshila region will keep the area largely free from activities ofnaxals in the wake of the elections.
“He said as there are a large number of villagers, who have shifted their base from the naxals to the police, it is the duty of the police administration to instill a sense of confidence among such villagers.
CRPF officer confirmed to have began the exercise of night domination in the difficult terrain in Patamda. “We had been carrying out long range patrolling in the jungles during the day, but now we have started the exercise of night domination in the night. In the exercise, the forces are staying throughout the night in those villages where thenaxals are reported to have visited clandestinely,” said the officer.
He pointed out by following the tactic the paramilitary forces are instilling a confidence among the villagers and at the same time preventing the rebels from entering into the villages.
“Being a local guy, he has easy acceptability among the people residing in the region. This is a tactic that the naxalleadership has followed after the death of former area commander Jay Kishore who was a resident of West Midnapore district,” said the sources.
They said that this was the reason that police and paramilitary forces had to start night domination so that the rebels may not bounce back at Patamda.
Notably, Patamda has become one of the attractions of political leaders who make a bee-line there for wooing the voters.