Security forces recover powerful landmine at Saranda

Jamshedpur : Security forces recovered a powerful landmine during an anti-Naxal operation in Naxal-infested Saranda in West Singhbhum district.

SP NK Singh said the recovery was made while the district armed police and 197 battalion of CRPF were on Long-range Patrolling. Security personnel detected and defused the explosive, weighing 15 kgs, underneath a road between Jambaibur and Karampada under Chotanagra police station.

Meanwhile, the police and paramilitary forces have started 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.

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.

Police sources have informed that on the basis of the leads provided by the arrested naxalite joint team of police and paramilitary forces are raiding at different places in Saranda area to nab other Maoists too.

Sources informed that the ultras belonging to the banned outfit CPI (Maoist) have been active in the areas like Dumaria, Musaboni, Chakulia, Bahragora and Ghatshila.

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.