Forces zero in on guerrilla stronghold

LALGARH: The battle for Lalgarh is far from over. After two days of rapid progress by security forces as they covered a stretch of over 14 km from Goaltore to Ramgarh, negotiating roads riddled with mines and Maoist-dominated areas like Kadashole, Mohultol and Tentultala, the march was halted on Sunday following multi-pronged attacks by guerrillas in the wee hours of the day.
The Maoists, on the other hand, are running out of not just options but even places to hide.With the combined force likely to begin its operation from Lalgarh on Monday and spread out to Boro Pelia, Chhoto Pelia and Kantapahari before proceeding towards Ramgarh, Chhatradhar Mahato and his People's Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA) has been trying to whip up local sentiments in the relief camps at Kantapahari, Sijua, Kalaimuri and Dainitikri.
The PCPA members are now reconciled to the idea that they can't resist the police. They are now desperately packing the roads and adjoining fields with IEDs and claymores. Two IEDs were recovered and defused at Sartura between Binpur and Lalgarh on Sunday.
The Maoists have not given up, though. Coordinated attack at either end of the axis along which the force had moved on Saturday started around 1.20 am. The rat-a-tat of gunfire from sophisticated rifles shattered the stillness of the night at both Kadashole and Ramgarh at the Goaltore end and at Pirakata where IEDs were detected two days ago.
The half-hour-long encounter with the invisible enemy from the Mohultol forests in the dead of the night was enough to send officers leading the charge into a huddle. At Lalgarh police station, which has been converted into the operations base, DIG CID (operations) Siddhinath Gupta held meeting with all senior officers to chalk out the strategy for the next move.
According to sources, the assessment of the three-pronged force movement from Lalgarh police station, Sarenga and Goaltore led to a decision to reinforce the team moving in from Sarenga.
The Maoists are very much in the vicinity. The road from Pingboni to Ramgarh may be under the control of security forces but the writ of Maoists still looms large along an adjoining road from Pingboni to Sarenga via Bulanpur.
IG Western Range Kuldeip Singh did a round of Ramgarh and held a meeting with operation chiefs. The officers are believed to have told him that the sanitization along a 1-km radius only managed to push the Maoists deeper into the jungle and not flush them out. "The Maoists are retreating and hiding in the jungle for the time being. They are waiting for an opportunity to strike back with vigour and venom," an officer later said.
The late-night firing also dampened the spirit of jubilation that residents of Ramgarh had shown on Saturday after forces moved in. Villagers realize that their tryst with Maoists is far from over.
Though police have set up checkposts all along the route from Goaltore to Ramgarh including Pingboni, Kadashole, Mohultol and Shiartole, people realize the Maoists will continue guerrilla warfare.
"All vehicles are being stopped for checks. Security forces have been spread out across paddy fields to take up strategic spots. But how long will they sustain the vigil? Maoists are playing a game of hide-and-seek," said a villager.
Though the entry into Ramgarh was a significant achievement, the path ahead is fraught with danger. At Aurma village, just a kilometre ahead of Ramgarh, Maoist squad movements were reported by locals on Sunday morning. Beyond Aurma is the most vital stretch Khasjangal crossing, where Maoists had burnt down several police vehicles around seven months ago. Then there is a 1.5-km stretch of thick jungle where Maoists are entrenched.
While the elite Cobra will sanitize the path, the forest that extends till Sarenga is so vast that sanitizing a kilometre on either side of the road may only provide safe passage for the forces and secure it for a day. "There is a need to sanitize it from the Sarenga end as well," said an officer.
Next in line are Maoist strongholds Dharampur, followed by Lockut, Kantapahari, Dalilpur Chowk, Narchia, Chhoto Pelia and Boropelia. All along the route, Maoists have a strong base. PCPA, that is also strong in this belt, may set up a human shield as well, fear officers.