Jharkhand: Maoist blow up panchayat building in West Singhbhum

Jamshedpur, Feb 17: CPI-Maoist rebels made their presence felt once again by triggering an IED blast targeting the Kadamdiha panchayat building at Kadamdiha under the Naxal-infested Goelkera police station area in West Singhbhum district on Friday.

According to police, the incident took place at about 1 am today. There was a massive explosion at the Kadamdiha village, leading the villagers to come out of their homes. They were shocked to see the panchayat building standing destroyed.

The Maoist rebels are observing “Virodh Diwas” from February 12 till February 24 and the blast is a part of registering the outfit’s protest.

After the incident, SP Ashutosh Shekhar presided over a high-level meeting of police and paramilitary forces in Chaibasa.  The meeting which is still in progress is crucial and likely aimed at intensifying the ongoing anti-insurgency operations at the Kolhan and Porahat forest divisions.

Notably, the Naxals, including some top leaders, have sneaked into the twin forest divisions since January’s first week to make them their home as the Naxals had to flee from Saranda forest due to the increasing number of CRPF camps set up there.

A senior security personnel, who is leading the operation said that a strong group of paramilitary forces have succeeded in bringing the ultras on back foot. He also informed that a large number of rebels have hidden themselves up in numerous hills in the forest regions.

Meanwhile police sources informed that they are keeping a vigil on the movements of the ultras and the drive of Maoists will not dampen the spirits of the local villagers.

Sources informed that a sudden rise in the Maoists activities have let the forces intensify the patrolling. The police have beefed up security in the naxal-infested areas of West Singhbhum.

Sources went on to inform that at least half a dozen landmines were exploded by the red ultras while the forces were moving into the jungle area.

In the last few days anti insurgency operation in the West Singhbhum has been intensified following intelligence reports that suggest rebels are camping in the pockets of forest areas in the wake of intensive policing in the neighbouring Bengal.

The administration has increased police patrolling on the bordering areas connecting to West Bengal and has also deployed an adequate number of paramilitary personnel on areas potential to rebel attack.