In a major achievement, a hardcore Maoist rebel was nabbed with explosives and cash at Mahadevbera under Chowka police station area on Sunday. The arrested Naxal was later identified as Krishna Singh Munda, a resident of Khunti village in Chandil.
During the arrest, the police recovered 20 pieces of gelatin sticks, wires and other bomb-manufacturing equipment as well as Rs 6,600 cash from Munda, who was pillion-rider of a bike that had been intercepted by jawans of paramilitary forces CRPF during a long range patrolling (lRP) at Mahadevbera.
The bike rider, Munna Mondal, who is said to be a Naxal sympathizer managed to escape. Mondal, who is a resident of Kandra is also an activist of a regional political party. Revealing about the breakthrough, officer-in-charge, Chowka police station, Neeraj Kumar said that Munda was arrested during a drive in Mahadevbera, located in the interior of Chowka. “As the CRPF jawans stopped him at an interior place in Mahadevbera, the bike riders wanted to run away from the para-military forces, causing suspicion.,” noted Neeraj.
The arrested Naxal said that he was going to meet a hardcore Naxal Maharaj Parmanik for handing over the cash and the explosives at a predetermined place in Mahadevbera.
The 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.
Superintendent of police, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Upendra Kumar while confirming about the arrest from Chowka, said that the police and paramilitary forces have intensified the anti-insurgency operation in Chowka and adjoining Chandil police station area. Police sources have informed that on the basis of the leads provided by the arrested man, joint team of police and paramilitary forces are raiding at different places in Saranda area to nab other Maoists too According to the police, the arrested Naxal was being interrogated by senior police officers of the adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district police headquarters.
Sources informed that the police have decided to ensure strict vigil and deploy additional security forces in the fringe areas. “Security has been beefed up in the area and they were keeping strict vigil on movement of the Naxals. The plan is to keep a tab on the camps being operated by ultras,” said another official.