The district police will intensify anti-Naxal operation in Ghatshila sub-division in view of rising naxal activities by CPI(Maoist)s in Ghatshila region. Sources said the rebel outfit is increasing its activities at Bagjata Uranium mines area belonging to Uranium Corporation of India ltd (UCIl). The decision has been taken after a CPI (Maoist) rebel was killed and a police jawan sustained bullet injuries during an encounter at Bikrampur village under Mosabani Police Station in Ghatshila sub-division of East Singhbhum district, around 70 km away from Jamshedpur on January 18.
East Singhbhum Senior Superintendent of Police, Amol V Homkar said that the security has been beefed up in the Naxal-infested areas. They had started an anti-naxal operation in Ghatshila sub-division a fortnight ago, but will now intensify it. “As per our reports, the ultras are active in Ghatshila which was evident from their recent encounter with the rebels. The decision to intensify the anti-rebel operation was taken as the rebels are hovering around the UCIl’s Bagjata mines in Mosabani. Apart from Mosabani, the rebels are also active in Dhalbhumgarh, Ghatshila and Chakulia located along the Bengal border,” said Homkar.
Homkar said that they would deploy more para-military forces in the Ghatshila sub-division, but he declined to give the details as how much additional force will be deployed there. At present, CRPF’s 193 battalion is stationed in Mosabani. One battalion consists of about 750 jawans. One of the CRPF camp is located at Banalopa near the Bagjata mines. Similar CRPF camps are also located in Ghura in Ghurabandha block, Mahuldia and also in Ghatshila block.
A senior police officer posted at Ghatshila said that the rebels who encountered with police at Bikrampur village in Mosabani belonged to Kanhu Munda squad of CPI-Maoist. Notably, at Dhalbhumgarh, Ghatshila and Chakulia the locations which are closed to Bengal, Madan Mahto squad of the CPI-Maoist is active, where as at Ghurabandha, Dumaria and Mosabani— which are close to Odisha is controlled by the Kanhu Munda squad.
Meanwhile, the police jawan Dukhiya Murmu who sustained bullet in his head is recuperating at the critical care unit of Tata Main Hospital. The Hospital sources said that Murmu’s condition continues to be critical as the bullet is still stuck in the victim’s head and he will be operated shortly. Dukhiya(30) is the body-guard of additional SP (Naxal Operation) Shailendra Kumar Burnwal.
Police and paramilitary forces have intensified long range patrolling and started area domination in bordering areas under Ghatshila, Dhalbhumgarh and Chakulia blocks. “We have intensified the operation as we anticipate that more Maoists might infiltrate to Jharkhand through the border to escape arrest by the Bengal Police,” said an official.
Meanwhile, from Tuesday, police and paramilitary forces have started frisking commuters in the bordering areas. At some places, common people are also being interrogated by police and paramilitary force on suspicion. Forces have been deployed in strategic locations. Notably, in Chakulia, there are about 40 rice mills and dozens of soap factories. large consignments of paddy from Bengal come to the rice mills in Chakulia for processing. While soaps and detergents manufactured in factories at Chakulia are sold in West Midnapore and Bankura.