Monday brought a major breakthrough from the Dumka Police. It has revealed that 30-35 rebels were involved in the attack on the cavalcade of slain Pakur SP Amarjit Balihar a week ago. Arrested hardcore Maoist Satan Besra admitted during interrogation that the ambush took place following a signal passed by him from the hilltop.
Balihar and five other policemen were killed on July 2 at Kathikund, 35 km from Dumka. The rebels ambushed Balihar’s cavalcade after triggering a landmine and fired indiscriminately. The SP’s driver and three of his bodyguards also died in the attack. Balihar was returning to Pakur after attending a meeting called by the DIG.
“Satan Besra has admitted he was present at the spot. He said the rebels had come from Giridih,” said Dumka DIG at a Press conference. Besra had been arrested on Monday from Kathikund.Besra also revealed that a meeting was held in the jungles of Kathikund, where the plot was hatched and levy distributed among them.
The rebel had been in jail in connection with the Naxal attack on a police patrolling party at Kathikund during the 2009 elections too, where one policeman was killed. “Besra had been involved in two other Naxal incidents in the area,” said Dumka SP Nirmal Kumar Mishra. Nothing has been recovered from his possession, he added.
Security forces’ operations are still on in Kathikund as well as border areas of Jharkhand and West Bengal. “We are raiding various locations as and when we get information about hideouts,” the SP said. “Involvement of local cadre cannot be ruled out,” he added Senior security advisor in the Union Home Ministry K Vijay Kumar, during his visit to Dumka on Sunday, had stressed on strengthening the intelligence network. He also said there must be regular communication between police stations and senior police officials in the districts.