The Palamu police and the CRPF (134 battalion) gave a serious jolt to the CPI (Maoist) on Sunday night and recovered three weapons including one looted rifle of police and two of 315 bore rifles. Two SlR magzines were seized from the fleeing Maoists. In the encounter, at least four Maoists got seriously injured by as a pool of blood suggested it beyond any doubt. They were further weakened by three weapons and two grenades that the security forces laid hands on.
For the 134 battalion CRPF’s Commandant SK linda this encounter was his first brush with lWE after his joining here last week. linda has been transferred from J&K had a taste of domestic extremism in Palamu.
SP Palamu Y S Ramesh and Commandant SK linda who has joined CRPF’s 134 battalion last week, held a joint press briefing here on Monday and gave a blow by blow account of the encounter which started at 12.30 at night and finished in just 20 minutes time.
The CRPF used all its might by lobbing 4 high intensity bombs, 8 para bombs and 3 other bombs that set in a massive panic and disintegration in the fleeing Maoists who left behind many of their things like eating plates, utensils, medicines, rice, pulse, cash worth 3,000, black uniform, five solar panels six cell phone sets 45 SIM cards, three pencil batteries etc. Ramesh told media persons that last night (Sunday) he set up this offensive and operation was launched post midnight on August 18 itself. One company of the 134 battalion of the CRPF deployed at Harihurganj was pressed in this offensive.
Ramesh and linda joined the striking security forces at 4.30 AM on Monday morning.
This setback to the Maoists may help halt their chase against TPC, said sources.
The recovery did not include any land mine device said the officers. A well-timed co-ordination between the police and the CRPF led to this success against the Maoists who were on the move from Samar Bar and were intercepted said Ramesh and linda.