The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Giridih police along with the Cobra battalion has launched a ‘cordon and search’ operation in the dense forest of Madhuwan and its neighbouring areas, following an encounter with Maoists at Kubri forest in Giridih that took place on Saturday.
ASP Deepak Kumar informed that following a tip-off regarding a meeting of Maoists to be held near Kubri forest, a search operation was launched to trace them. “As soon as the joint team of district police, Kobra battalion and 154 battalion of CRPF reached the spot, Maoists started firing. This was retaliated by firing from security forces, but the Maoists succeeded to escape,” he said.
The security forces have now intensified the search operation in order to nab an ultra who was apparently injured in the encounter. Police suspect that several ultras were hit during the encounter and some of them are getting treatment under village doctors.
Superintendent of police (SP) Giridih, S.K.Jha said, “Intensive combing operation is going on in several areas of Madhuwan including Kubri. We are also using bikes to speed up the operation”.
ASP Deepak Kumar informed that the blood stain found on various spots in the forest proves that the injured Maoists have fled towards nearby Kubri village.
Nonetheless, the dense forest has made the task of security forces challenging. The Maoists may have laid landmines in the forest but the police managed to pass them and continued the operation.
Security forces had recovered huge domestic items in the forest on Saturday. Sources informed that commanders of the ultras from Bokaro, Giridih and other areas including Ajay Mahto, Santosh Mahto and Mithilesh Mahto were supposed to attend a meeting in Kubri but their plan was foiled by the police.
SP said, “The police of several police stations are keeping a close watch on the area for the past several days following reports of Maoist movement.”
The spot of the encounter lies on a ‘Maoist-corridor’ connecting the Kubri forest to the Parasnath hills.