Chaibasa: A fresh encounter broke out early Wednesday morning between Maoists and security personnel in the dense forest belt of West Singhbhum district, triggering heightened security across the region.
The exchange of fire began in the Tonto police station area when a patrol team from the CoBRA 209 Battalion was moving through the Rutughutu forests. Around 4:30 a.m., Maoists reportedly lying in ambush opened fire on the team. Security forces responded immediately, leading to intermittent gunfire that continued through the morning hours.
Officials said that security forces had already been conducting an intensive search operation for the past two days in the Boroi and Toonbeda areas under Goelkera police station limits. The latest encounter occurred amid these ongoing operations.
Following the incident, the entire area has been put on high alert. Additional forces have been deployed, and the forest zone has been cordoned off as search operations continue.
West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police Amit Renu stated that forces are carrying out extensive combing operations in the region and closely monitoring the situation.
Security agencies had recently flagged concerns over a possible resurgence of Maoist activity in the Goelkera belt, especially after the killing of a former Maoist. Intelligence inputs suggest that a group led by Maoist commander Misir Besra may be trying to re-establish its presence in the bordering forest regions of Saranda and Kolhan.
In response, security arrangements have been tightened across sensitive areas of West Singhbhum, with police and paramilitary forces continuing operations in the challenging forest terrain to track down insurgents and maintain control over the area.
With inputs from IANS