The second phase of operation ‘Mangal-2’ has been launched in the Saranda Jungle jointly by the Rourkela and West Singhbhum police and CRPF forces against the Maoist menace on the Odisha-Jharkhand boarder, sources said.
For last many years, the Maoist activities have been going on in the Saranda Jungle. The Rourkela police has taken up various stringent activities in last two years and succeeded in nabbing many Maoist leaders, cadres and supporters.
The police even asserted that they have gunned down the Maoist Chhotanagpur division chief Samarjee a year back though the claim is refuted by the ultras.
After more than two years, security personnel came to know that the Maoists are again active and holding meetings in the bordering villages including Bandhagaon to mobilise villagers to join their activities. When the police knew it a couple of weeks ago, they and CRPF jawans conducted operation ‘Mangal-1’ and succeeded in destroying three Maoist camps in the jungle.
Meanwhile, again, when the police got information that the Maoist leaders would be holding meetings in the Saranda Jungle, they have launched the ‘Mangal-2’. This time, the police target Maoist leaders Samarjee and Nirvay, source said. The security personnel are using a helicopter, powerful binoculars and sophisticated weapons to fight with leftwing extremists.
It is to be mentioned that a year back, Nirvay succeeded in fleeing from the Chainbasa Jail breaking his cell. The police have also information that the Maoists are roaming on the Khandadhar-Keonjhar boarder and they may cause any eventuality at any moment after the State Government’s clearance to Khandadhar mining by Posco, said a police official.