Intensify anti-rebel ops during monsoon: DGP tells jawans

Ranchi: Director general of police (DGP) K N Choubey has directed the field officers to intensify operations against Left-wing extremists and the splinter outfits of CPI (Maoist) during monsoon. Acknowledging that there are challenges before security personnel in carrying out combing operations against guerilla army in the forests during the rainy season, Choubey held a detailed discussion with field officers to devise strategies for such operation.
The DGP asked the officers to take legal measures, including steps for confiscation of property, against top extremist leaders, their supporters and people acting as conduits in collection of extortion money. The orders were issued during a discussion with senior police officers across the state through video-conferencing on Friday evening.
ADG (operations) M L Meena, IG (operations) Ashis Batra and senior police officers including several superintendents of police participated in the meeting.
Jharkhand police and the CRPF had over 25 encounters with rebel outfits, in which 22 extremists — including 11 People’s Liberation Front of India (PLFI), five Maoists and three members each from Tritya Prastuti Committee and JJMP — have been killed.
Batra, who is also the state police spokesperson, said, “The meeting continued throughout Friday in which several agenda related to law and order were discussed. We discussed the present scenario and chalked out strategies and targets. The DGP asked the field officers to continue anti-extremist operations with renewed vigour during monsoon.”
Batra further said carrying out operations during monsoon poses several challenges and the security forces have been sensitised about the hazards. “Thick foliage reduces visibility considerably, which in turn impacts search operations. Besides, rivers and rivulets remain in spate, hindering the movement of forces in the countryside.”
He added, “There is also threat of security personnel contracting vector borne diseases like malaria while moving through dense vegetation. Therefore, we have provided the jawans with special anti-malarial kits. Natural calamities like lightning strikes also add to the list of worries for security personnel. Last year, nine CoBRA jawans were injured in lightning strikes.”