Daltonganj: One woman died and the other sustained an injury in an IED blast triggered by Maoists at Pandra forest in Garu police station area of Latehar on Saturday. Police said Ravinder Ganjhu’s squad, that exchanged fire with the security forces recently, had laid down the booby trap in the jungles to target the forces.
Latehar SP Prashant Anand, who was overseeing the combing operation in the jungle, said, “The jungle is dotted with numerous improvised explosive devices. Security forces have recovered a good number of land mines. Some blood trails have also been found, which indicate Maoists have suffered injuries too. Police have recovered shoes and walkie-talkie sets.”
Meanwhile, Piparwar police in Chatra on Saturday arrested two extremists — TSPC commander Ganesh Ganjhu and his accomplice Naresh. The arrests came after a tip-off was received by the superintendent of police Rishav Kumar Jha. The arrest is seen as a big blow for Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC) whose second in command Mukesh Ganjhu had surrendered on Friday, weakening the outfit.
Police seized a revolver and two live bullets from the duo. Tandwa SDPO Vikas Pandey said, “A tip-off was received that a squad of the TSPC is moving around Piparwar area to commit something big. The SP constituted a team which raided Lukaiya forest resulting in the arrest of the two rebels.”
He added that other than Chatra, the duo was wanted in other neighbouring districts. They were responsible for a blast at a weigh bridge in Piparwar in 2013. Mcluskiegunj and Khalari police from Ranchi also came to Piparwar to interrogate the duo.