Chaibasa/Latehar/(Agencies): Security forces demolished a large bunker of the proscribed CPI(Maoist) at Saranda forest in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district as part of the ‘Operation Octopus’ on Wednesday, a day after the recovery of a huge cache of explosive and ammunition in Latehar, a senior police officer said.
The massive anti-Naxal operation was carried out by the elite Jharkhand Jaguar, Cobra and West Singhbhum district armed police, Inspector General (Operations) Amol V Homkar said. CPI(Maoist) Special Area Committee member Ajay Mahato, who carries a Rs 25 lakh reward on his reward, fled during the operation. There was information with the police that Mahato and his squad members have assembled in the bunker.
A joint team of the security forces was constituted and the operation was launched, Homkar said. During the operation, the Naxals opened fire at the security forces, who retaliated in self-defense forcing them to take cover in the forest. Some of them received bullet injuries.
No security force personnel was injured. They cordoned off the area, carried out a search operation and demolished the large bunker, the IG said. Naxal uniforms, tents, utensils, and items of daily use were recovered from the spot, he added.
On Tuesday security forces seized 106 landmines, including pressure cooker and cylinder bombs, can and tiffin box bombs besides Chinese grenades were recovered during a search operation at the Budapahad area in the Latehar district along the Chhattisgarh border.