Security up in Red-hit areas

Patna: Security has been beefed up in Maoist-hit areas following intelligence inputs that a group of CPI (Maoist) activists have entered state from Chhattisgarh via Jharkhand with an under barrel grenade launcher (UBGL).

DGP P K Thakur said anti-Maoist operations will continue until the Maoists are flushed out of the state. “We cannot comment on what kind of weapons the ultras are carrying. All we can say is security forces are well-equipped to fight the rebels,” the DGP said.

Police had recovered three sophisticated weapons – two INSAS rifles and a UBGL – from three slain Maoists after the July 18 encounter at Dumari Nala in Aurangabad district in which 10 CoBRA jawans had lost their lives. “We have received inputs that the group which has entered the state is carrying a UBGL. They have probably come to the state to take revenge from security forces for the killing of six of their cadre members in July 18 Aurangabad encounter,” a senior security officer said.

Sources said the rebel outfit had probably looted UBGLs from security forces. “No private agency is licensed to import UBGL in India. Only government can import UBGL from Russia for security forces,” they said.

The Maoists have of late become active in Jamui, Gaya and Aurangabad districts. According to the sources with the security forces, Parvesh alias Anuj alias Sahdev Soren, Sidhu Koda alias Sidhu Majhi and Pintu Rana alias Rajesh Rana, who are on the top 10 wanted list of the security forces, are camping in Jamui these days.

“The Maoist cadres of Bihar and Jharkhand do not specialise in firing. They are more into levy collection. Whenever they plan any major attack, the Maoists get back up from Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh,” the sources added.

“Many arms corridors and shelters of the Maoists have recently been destroyed by the security forces. Hence, the rebels are now using Andhra Pradesh-Odissa-Jharkhand-West Bengal route to enter Bihar,” the sources said.