CPI (Maoist) rebels today triggered at least four improvised explosive devices (IED) during an encounter with security forces in Garhwa district. Police claimed that top Maoist leader Arvind Ji, leading his troop, had also been cornered by the police in Budha Pahari but later succeeded to slip away taking advantage of the dense forests.
“An encounter is still going on with the Maoists at Budha Pahari in Garhwa which is being lead by top Maoist leader Arvind Ji himself,” said IG (Operations) cum Jharkhand Police Spokesperson MS Bhatia. It was a planned operation during which they triggered at least four IEDs and also fired indiscriminately on the joint police team of CRPF and State police, where no casualties have been reported so from any of the sides, added Bhatia.
“Firing was done twice on the police force,” said Bhatia. The Maoists alongwith their leader Arvind Ji had also been cornered by the security forces on Budha Pahar, said to be dominated by the rebels and a search operation was being done till late in the evening to locate the rebels, he said.
Garhwa SP Priyadarshi Alok also asserted that Maoist leader Arvind Ji had also been stuck in the encounter, but succeeded in getting away from the spot taking advantage of the dense forests. A massive search operation had also been launched in the jungles of Budha Pahari to find them out, he added.
“Search operation is still going on to find them out,” said the Garhwa SP.
SP latehar Anoop Birtharey said Sudhakaran and Arvind and their armed cadres were having a meeting at Budha village on top of it when security forces started laying a siege to them and the Maoists went for a series of 3 to 4 IED blasts and indiscriminate firing which was retaliated by the combined security forces. Birtharey however, said the Maoists took advantage of the contour of the pahar and escaped.
Budha Pahar, surrounded by dense forests, is said to be a safe haven for Maoists where borders of three states – Jharkhand, Odisha and Chattisgarh meets at a single point. After committing crimes in one of the states, they slip into other states by crossing the borders and dodge the police of that State.