Anti-Maoist offensive intensified, 10 rebels killed in Jharkhand

RANCHI - The anti-Maoist offensive in Jharkhand has been intensified with security forces gunning down 10 rebels in West Singhbhum district, police sources said Monday.

Police claimed killing 10 rebels Sunday after security forces surrounded around 300 Maoists who engaged them in a gun battle for nearly 28 hours. But no bodies were recovered.

Six security personnel were also injured in the gun battle which ended Sunday evening, sources said.

Around 2,000 security personnel joined the operation, Green Hawk, which started in the district last Friday.

Troopers from paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Jharkhand Jaguar and Special Task Force (STF) were involved in the operation in Sonuwa and Porahat jungles of the district, around 170 km from Ranchi.

During the operation eight Maoist training camps were destroyed, and 21 landmines and two generators recovered, police sources said.

Security forces also recovered around two quintals of fish, dry fruits and other eatables from the training camps.

“Our plan is to disconnect Maoists’ supplies like foodgrains and water. Security forces have started cornering the rebels but it will take months to fight the final battle,” a police source told IANS.

CRPF Special Director General Vijay Raman is coordinating with police to launch offensives against the rebels in other parts of the state including Saranda Jungle, sources said.

Anti-Maoist operations have been intensified after union Home Minister P. Chidambaram visited Jharkhand last week and held a meeting with senior government officials and Governor M.O.H Farook, they said.