Security forces in Palamu comprising jawans and officials of JAP and DAP drove away a contingent of CPI Maoists led by Nitesh. There was an exchange of fire between the security forces and the Maoists. The Maoists retreated.
The occurrence happened around 8.45 pm on Thursday about 87 Kms away from Daltonganj. The encounter lasted for little over 20 minutes. Sources said there was no casualty or injury on the side of the security forces.
Arun Kumar Singh ASP ( operations) said, “There was a tip off about Nitesh. His contingent was near the foothills of Ghurghurya. As our security forces reached there came firing from the Maoists’ side. It was repulsed with tact and discretion.”
Singh further said, “We were expecting Nitesh to come over in this part as very recently our boys had held feast for the villagers at Mahudand and the villagers numbering more than 2,000 had enjoyed this feast with love and respect and this must have given the Maoists a sense of losing their grip over the masses here.”
He said a forward security post there at Mahudand with an all weather helipad has further panicked the Maoists as this hideout at Mahudand too is now open and out of control of them .
Sources said Nitesh and his squad just wanted to gauge the sentiments of the people there vis a vis the preparedness of the security forces there. Nitesh and cadres had a near brush with death when security forces were right before them. Sources said it was sheer luck that Nitesh survived. The retreat of Nitesh and allies was swift which indicated their incapacity and inability to continue to take on the security forces. Sources said the Maoists opened fire first but were the first too to flee from the ground in the night.
Sources said Commandant 134 battalion CRPF S K linda and his combatants rushed to the place of occurrence at night itself. linda said there was the pressure of the security forces for the whole of the night and on just getting twilight on Friday massive search operation was launched. He said security forces have recovered lots of pithoos, ammunition, black uniform and one semi automatic gun.
Indrajeet Mahatha said the security forces would neutralize Nitesh and his squad.