Massive rebel camp destroyed in W Singhbhum

In a prolonged encounter between the ultras and police in Goelkera jungle in West Singhbhum district, a massive rebel camp was destroyed and about half a dozen Naxals belonging to outlawed outfit CPI-Maoist are reported to have been gunned down, according to locals.

The encounter which started during a special operation Sangajata jungle under Goelkera thana area in Porahat since Sunday last was continuing on Monday.

An estimated 60 to 100 rebels, including two hardcore, Prashant Bose and Misirj Soren have been surrounded in a cave which is located in Paral mountain in Sangajhata jungle.

Inspector-general (Operations) Ashish Batra confirmed about the ongoing encounter at Sangajata jungle since April 15. "Several rounds of fierce encounters between the naxals and the para-military forces have taken place at Sangajata jungle. 

The residents of adjoining villages have informed the police and paramilitary forces about the casualties on the naxal sides," said Batra.

The IG (Operations) said that the villagers claimed to have seen about half-a-dozen bodies lying in the dense jungle. He said that during the operation they have destroyed a massive rebel camp where accommodation for about 100 rebels was made.  

He said the paramilitary forces have surrounded the Sangajati as they want to block the supply line to the mountain where the rebels have holed up.

"Several rounds of fierce encounters between the naxals and the para-military forces have taken place at Sangajata jungle.  The residents of adjoining villages have informed the police and paramilitary forces about the casualties on the naxal sides. 

If the villagers are taken into account then there is considerable casualty of naxals," said an official.

“We will carry a search operation. We have not yet stumbled upon anybody, but the villagers' statement cannot be ignored as the fire power from our side was severe," said a senior police officer.

A police official said the rebels have planted landmines around the Sangjata jungle and so far 40 landmines have been defused after they were detected with the help of sniffer dogs.

According to information, about 300 jawans of CRPF and Jharkhand Jaguar have surrounded the Sangajata jungle while another 100 jawans of the paramilitary forces are engaged in the encounter which is continuously intermittently.

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.  “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.

Remarkably, the West Singhbhum administration revised its security measures after district vigilance department reported possible intruding of the rebels into the district.

 Meanwhile intelligence sources maintained that the naxals have once again started influencing the local residents to come to the fold of the naxalism," said a senior intelligence officer.  He said the rebels are targeting areas in Sonua, Goelkera and Porahat region of West Singhbhum.

The intelligence sources also maintain that most of the Maoists who were in Saranda forest have shifted to the adjoining Sundergarh district in Odisha and several others hid themselves at the villages in Saranda in the guise of cultivators.