Security forces have been directed to concentrate more on the encounters after identifying the movement of PlFI cadres during the ongoing Operation Karo-II which kicked off recently to flush them out of Khunti and its adjoining districts.
Zonal IG MS Bhatia held a meeting with IG (Operations) Ml Meena, Ranchi DIG Praveen Kumar along with the SPs of five PlFI-affected districts here on Monday to chalk out further strategy to flush PlFI cadres out of the area.
“Detailed discussion regarding the ongoing Operation Karo-II was done, chalking out the strategy and proper planning has been done for deployment of forces, use of logistics as well as the manpower to be used during the operation,” said Bhatia.
Security forces, according to Bhatia, have also made certain achievements during the operation.
“We have arrested a PlFI commander Sona Ram Sundi with five sophisticated arms from Simdega who was quite active in Ponto area of Chaibasa and was trying to spread his tentacles in the area on Sunday while some other PlFI cadres have also been arrested from Khunti on Monday,” the IG added.
The IG also said that Sundi was also involved in the abduction of the mining officers which took place recently in Chaibasa.
Referring to the top PlFI cadres like Dinesh Gope out of the reach of security forces, the IG said that they are also in the target and as soon as we get perfect inputs, swift action will be taken against them.
“Intelligence inputs play an important role in such operations depending upon the whereabouts of the top rebel leaders. We are in constant touch with the IG of the neighboring district Rourkela in Odisha and sharing inputs regarding the movement of the cadres,” said Bhatia.
He further said that Operation Karo-II was getting momentum and will be intensified further in order to flush the rebels out from the area. “We have not fixed any time limit for the operation and will continue till further orders or targets are achieved,” Bhatia said.
When asked about the threat of calling bandh if operation against the PlFI is continued, the IG said that they are under pressure and terrorized by the drive being conducted against them. “We are determined this time to finish them and operation will continue,” said Bhatia. He, however, declined to have any information regarding call of bandh by the PlFI.
He further added that the police are more dependent on human intelligence than the other sources. “Human intelligence system so far has proved to be more effective than the other sources which are further being developed in Jharkhand in order to get more reliable intelligence inputs from the sources on the ground,” Bhatia added.
As many as 10 companies of security forces of Jharkhand Jaguar, CRPF, JAP and state police have been deployed in Khunti, Rania, Torpa, Karra and Murhu jungles near the State Capital. Extensive search operations are being conducted to finish the PlFI menace from the area.