Fierce encounter with PLFI utras at West Singhbhum, several rounds of firing

Jamshedpur, Jan 22: An encounter took place late Saturday night between CRPF and PLFI ultras in Dikilata forest under Bandgaon police station area of West Singhbhum district. The CRPF and the district police were jointly conducting a search operation in the forest. Meanwhile, the Naxalites hiding in the forest started firing on seeing the jawans.

After this, the jawans also took charge and opened fire in retaliation. Meanwhile, PLFI Naxalites ran away from the spot seeing CRPF being outnumbered on their own. Many weapons were also left behind during the escape. These weapons have been confiscated by the jawans. CRPF and District Police personnel are still conducting search operations in the forest. Chaibasa SP Ashutosh Shekhar has also confirmed this. He said that the search operation is being conducted regularly. During this time many weapons have been recovered. Although on the other hand, the Maoists have also announced a bandh today.

When contacted, an official  said that an encounter took place between security forces and PLFI ultras  under the jurisdiction of Bandgaon police station late 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, ” he said.

 Another official said: “The police received secret information that some ultras of banned outfit along with leaders 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.