Security forces on anti-insurgency operations in Goelkera

Jamshedpur, Dec 30: Police and paramilitary forces have intensified anti-insurgency operations in a jungle under Goelkera police station area in West Singhbhum district since evening following a mutilated body of a villager was found.

The victim identified as Singrai Purty was killed after an IED was blasted at the jungle near Miradri village in Goelkera where he had gone to collect firewood along with a friend.

Though the officials are tight lipped over the matter but the operation to flush out ultras is on. Adequate numbers of forces are staying at Goelkera.

“Yes an anti-Maoists operation was started today in the wee hours. We have received information about the movement of the ultras. The operation is part of the routine course of action against the Maoists,” sources said.

 A senior state intelligence officer said they have received inputs from their Odisha counterpart about four suspected rebels who have possibly sneaked into the state through the Jharkhand border.

“With the deployment of forces of CRPF and Cobra battalion security has been beefed up in the area and we are keeping strict vigil on movement of the Naxalites. The plan is to keep a tab on the naxal activities and camps being operated by ultras. We have asked security forces to conduct long-range patrolling in the areas of West Singhbhum,” said an official.

According to information, the area is being used as framing strategies against the ultras as several senior security officers are camping here and regularly meeting with forces. The banned outfit CPI (Maoist) has been active in the West Singhbhum district.

According to an intelligence source, the naxals usually shelter inside dense forest only. But if the joint operation is carried out effectively from either side, the naxals have no choice but to bow down to the pressure. Meanwhile, operation has been intensified in the naxal infested areas of Rangamaati and Bachadera under Seraikela Kharsawan district.

An official stated that today’s anti-insurgency operation is based on the input that the rebels are moving in small groups and are trying to reorganise.

“Every effort will be made to maintain law and order and to ensure security of the people. This time all security forces have also been alerted to remain vigilant, particularly against IEDs and landmines,” he said.

All the police stations in the three districts of the division including East and West Singhbhum and Seraikela Kharsawan have been asked to beef up the security and keep a vigil at the bordering areas.

 “Even the security has been beefed up at some of the naxal prone areas of Ghatshila, Dumaria and Seraikela Kharsawan,” said the official.