Jamshedpur, June 20: In a�joint operation, CRPF and West Singhbhum district police personnel unearthed a militant hideout and recovered a huge haul of weapons and explosives�belonging to the outlawed People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI) at Podangir in Porahat jungle under Bandhgaon police station area in the district on Sunday evening.
The recovered firearms include eight rifles, four double-barrel guns, two carbines, 250 kg detonators, which were concealed in the dense jungle of Podangir. The police have also arrested a PLFI activist identified as Johan Barjo alias Salim (30).
This apart the police have also seized four magazines meant for carbine from the possession of Salim.
The West Singhbhum district superintendent of police, Michael Raj said that Salim, who is a resident of Sonua block in West Singhbhum, is a PLFI activist. He was along with six other PLFI rebels, who managed to escape.
Michael said, �The police received acted following secret information that some ultras of the banned outfit were seen in the jungle. Acting on a tip-off, we succeeded in raiding their hideout. It is a major achievement for the security forces engaged in the anti-Maoist operation here. After intelligence reports alerted us we formed a team of district police and other security forces for this operation and successfully executed it.���
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“Those who managed to escape include Mangra Lugun, Jidan Guria, Sanichar Surin, Marshal Guria and Thomas Hembram. In this connection, we have registered a case of under Sections 25(1-B) and 26 Arms Act, 4/5 Explosive Substance Act and Section 17 CLA Act, which means for indulging in Naxal activity,” said Michael.��
Notably, this is the second such breakthrough against the PLFI rebels active in the West Singhbhum district within the past fortnight.
On June 4, the police and CRPF unearthed an illegal mini-gun factory and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition during a prolonged joint search operation at two different places in Tabo also from the Bandhgaon police station area.
The police and paramilitary forces have also beefed up the Naxal infested areas of West Singhbhum district. Sources informed that the police are frisking commuters in the bordering areas.
At some places common people are also being interrogated by police and paramilitary force on suspicion. Forces have been deployed in strategic locations.
The district police have maintained that combing operation in the Maoist infested areas of the district will continue as usual and there is no let up whatsoever.
��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.