Jharkhand Timeline 2012

Date

Incidents

January 1

A CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Ganesh Lohra, a member of Guddu Singh squad of the outfit, and three of his aides were arrested from a rented house in Pandra under Sukhdevnagar Police Station on the outskirts of Ranchi District.

Two additional CRPF battalions, earmarked for the Saranda forest area that was freed from over 10 years of Maoist dominance in a month-long offensive last August, will take guard in February. At present, three battalions of Paramilitary troopers are already stationed in Saranda.

January 3

The CPI-Maoist cadres beheaded one youth, identified as Sukhram Munda, at Gamaria Raja Bazaar under Adki Police Station limits in Khunti District after branding him as a 'Police informer'.

A joint operation of the Khunti Police and CRPF led to the recovery of 40 kilograms of IED planted by suspected Maoists on a non-tarred road between Bhandra- Jilenga forests in the District, the Police said. The Police unearthed the IED and recovered around 200 meters of wire connected to it.

January 5

CPI-Maoist cadre, Balram Sahu alias David (30), who was arrested near Jamui Railway Station in Bihar on January 3 was brought back to the jail in Ranchi District.

The Jharkhand Government appealed to CPI-Maoist cadres to make a fresh beginning in the New Year by surrendering to the rule of law, as it responded to feelers from a section of cadres, but did not promise any let-up in ongoing anti-Maoist operations.

January 6

Several posters written in red, blue and green ink were pasted by the CPI-Maoist cadres at public places and Government offices in Dandai and Chinia areas of Garhwa District asking the villagers, Government officials and newly elected panchayat representatives to change their modus operandi.

BJP MLA Gurusaran Nayak escaped a bid on his life when CPI-Maoist cadres fired indiscriminately a few metres away from his car near Harta village in West Singhbhum District.

According to Palamu SP A T Mathew, Forces will not be withdrawn from Palamu for the Uttar Pradesh polls, which will have no impact on the ongoing operations against the Maoists.

The CPI-Maoist cadres attacked an excavation site owned by Panem Coal Mines Limited at Katahaldih in Amrapara in Pakur District and killed a security guard.

During a special operation carried out by the CRPF and District Police at Hunterganj locality in Chatra District, a CPI-Maoist 'sub-zonal commander', identified as Madanji alias Tiwariji alias Basudeb Bhuyan, was arrested. Chatra SP Anup Birtheray said Madanji was wanted in about ten cases. A rifle, a pistol and 20 detonators were recovered from him.

The CPI-Maoist cadres shot dead Makheran Ganju, a former 'area commander' of the outfit, in Chatra District, for quitting the outfit. The bullet-riddled body was recovered at Roshan village of the District along with a Maoist note.

A group of 15 railway employees cleaning railway tracks found a can bomb weighing 20 kilogram on the line at Banaso between Jarangdih and Bokaro Thermal stations in Bokaro District.

A CRPF team arrested Gambhir Singh Bhumij (38), an armed Maoist and active Maoist propagandist from Indurbati village in Patamda Police Station area in East Singhbhum District.

Two close accomplices of sub-zonal 'commander' Kundan Pahan were arrested from Tamar area in Ranchi District, during a raid.

A close associate of top Maoist 'commander' Kundan Pahan, identified as Chattan Singh, was arrested along with his girl friend Aitwari alias Shanuntala from Ruragdih village under Tamar Police Station in Ranchi District. Giving the information SSP of Ranchi S.K. Singh said that Chattan Singh is involved in the killing of a former MLA, the bank van loot and many other criminal incidents.

An injured CPI-Maoist cadre died in a hospital in Jamshedpur a few hours after his arrest from an area under Gurabandha Police Station in West Singhbhum. Gulach Munda, an accused in the abduction of a block development officer in 2010 besides 15 other offences, died in the M G M Hospital. Munda sustained injury while he was trying to escape from the clutches of the Police.

The SFs arrested two CPI-Maoist cadres from separate places during anti-Maoist operations in Latehar and Bokaro Districts.

One person was killed and another got injured when SFs allegedly fired at their car after they ignored a warning to stop for checking during a CPI-Maoist State-wide bandh in Palamu District.

An armed group of CPI-Maoist, shot dead a cadre of the TPC, identified as Avdhesh Yadav (45), in Palamu District. The slain TPC cadre was a resident of Jhargada village under Hussainabad subdivision of the District.

Amidst speculations about the possible dates and venues of the tenth Congress of the CPI-Maoist, sources said the Maoists have begun their secret conclave at a place in Saraikela District, bordering the State's capital Ranchi.

East Singhbhum Police launched a massive combing operation at Ghurabandha in Ghatshila following intelligence inputs on infiltration of armed Maoists from West Bengal.

Work on setting up as many as 21 CRPF camps, as a part of the Saranda Action Plan, a development initiative in West Singhbhum, is yet to start, awaiting clearance from the forest department, while the state is yet to form a Saranda Development Authority as advocated by Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh after visiting the forest early December, 2011.

The teaching fraternity in Latehar District held a sit-in rally to protest the frequent abductions of teachers in the State. Interacting with media persons, teachers said that often abducted teachers are tortured and threatened by Maoists which has created a fear in the mind of the entire teaching fraternity in the region.

Security arrangement has been beefed up in view of the 24-hour bandh in Ghatshila sub-division in East Singhbhum District called by the Maoists from midnight of January 18, the first bandh after night train services resumed in the Tata-Kharagpur-Rourkela section of South Eastern Railway.

A day after seven unidentified bodies were recovered in the afternoon of January 18 from near Gagra village in Khunti District, the Police identified the victims and ruled out Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) involvement.

The daylong Maoist bandh in Ghatshila subdivision in East Singhbhum District evoked mixed response.

As many as 50 - 60 armed CPI-Maoist cadres triggered a landmine blast and blew up an armoured vehicle, killing 13 Police personnel on board in a forest of Garhwa District.

The CPI-Maoist have listed, the immediate halt to the security offensive and withdrawal of Security Forces from Saryu, Kone, Oraiya and other areas in Latehar, Palamu and Garhwa Districts, as pre-conditions for the release of hostages.

The CPI-Maoist cadres triggered an explosion in the forest area along the Jharkhand- Chhattisgarh border in Garhwa District. The explosion took place somewhere in the forests at Chatia-Matgari, 20 Kilometres away from Bariganwa forest. Search operation by the SFs continued in the forests in the District, according to sources in Bhandaria Police Station of the District.

The Police arrested two persons, including a village sarpanch for their alleged involvement in the landmine blast triggered by the CPI-Maoist on January 21 that claimed 13 lives, in Garhwa District. "Bargarh village sarpanch Ramdas Minz and his aide Fida Hussain were arrested after we got evidence against them. They are charged under various Sections, like murder and criminal conspiracy," SP Michael S. Raj said.

The Garhwa District committee of the CPI-ML called for a bandh to protest the Police failure to trace zilla parishad chairperson Sushma Mehta, and three others, 48 hours after they were abducted from Lalmatia by Maoists. Later on the day, one Sudhir, who claimed to be the Maoist spokesperson, informed over telephone in Latehar that the Maoists had released zilla parishad chairperson Sushma Mehta and two other abducted persons. He said they would reach Garhwa by the evening.

In a letter written to the Chief Minister Arjun Munda, the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram expressed his dissatisfaction with the performance of Jharkhand Government in combating Maoists. The letter, according to sources, also contained an advisory pointing to the possibility of Maoist-engineered attacks on Police vehicles. The State Government played down the importance and timing of the letter, saying such communications was being sent to States regularly. Chidambaram pointed out Jharkhand had not been able to prevent rampant extortion by, and violence among, Maoist splinter groups.

Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres killed their former cadre at Jangi-giri in Giridih District. The cadre, identified as Khublal Mandal, recently released from jail after completion of his two-year jail term, was taken away to Jaridih and shot dead by the Maoists. His dead body was recovered in the morning of January 26, the Police said.

The Police averted a possible CPI-Maoist attack in the State on the Republic Day with the recovery of 32 landmines from a forest in Latehar District. The landmines, each weighing five kilograms, were planted in a row in Laap forest in the District, some 130 kilometres from State capital Ranchi. An unnamed Police officer said the landmines were planted beneath an unpaved road used by Police vehicles.

Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibte Razi urged CPI-Maoist to shut violence. Taking part in the 63rd Republic Day celebrations in Ranchi, the Governor hoisted the national flag and asked the CPI-Maoist to join the mainstream of the society. CM Arjun Munda hoisted the tricolour in the State's second capital Dumka.

A Policeman, Constable Amitabh Barla, was killed and his friend was seriously injured after suspected cadres of the PLFI, a break away faction of the CPI-Maoist opened fire on them at a marriage party in a Ranchi village in Ranchi District. Constable Amitabh Barla died on the spot after being shot from close range. SP (rural) Asim Vikrant Minj said that it was because of "personal rivalry" that Barla was attacked by suspected PLFI cadres. Barla is known to have links with the Jitendra Nayak gang active in the region before joining the Police Force in 2009. "He was a member of the nexus led by Nayak and worked against the Jainath Sahu gang," Minj said.

The CPI-Maoist cadres fired at a make-shift camp of the SFs, triggering a gun battle at Barwadih in Latehar District. However, there was no report of any loss of life, Latehar SP Kranti Kumar said, adding the two sides were exchanging fire intermittently. The encounter followed a special drive launched by the District Police and the CRPF in the stronghold areas of the Maoists in Maoist-infested parts of the District, Kumar said.

Maoist splinter group, the JPC, hoisted an inverted national flag in Palamu District to mark their protest as the country celebrated the 63rd Republic Day. Cadres of the JPC chose the occasion to raise protest against Government apathy by hoisting two national flags, one of which was inverted. "We would have had jobs had we reaped the benefits of freedom. We would not have been compelled to choose the path of violence. Maoists are hoisting black flags. So we are respecting the tricolour flag and rejecting the black flag, all children in the area are hoisting the tricolour," said Avinash, a JPC leader.

Anti-CPI-Maoist operations were halted for a day in the hope that the Maoists would release abducted Policeman Suresh Ram, who has not returned home after the January 22, 2012 landmine blast in Jharkhand's Garhwa District. The operations were halted for a day after Ram's family made a request on the basis of media reports that he would be released if they were halted, Garhwa SP Michael S Raj told the reporters in Garhwa.

The Ranchi Police arrested six PLFI cadres, including PLFI 'leader' Aditya Kumar Gope from Pandra Bazar in the District. Gope was wanted in a number of cases registered with the Gumla Police; antecedents of his aides are yet to be verified. "We suspect all five members of his group - Mantu Kumar Singh, Kundan Kumar Chandravanshi, Rahul Dayal, Vishal Kumar and Nadim Ansari -to have links with the PLFI," said city SP Ranjit Prasad. Gope was identified as a wanted criminal who was released on bail recently," Prasad said. The Police recovered one SUV and one stolen motorcycle from their possession.

Five Maoists surrendered before the Khunti Police in Khunti District. Khunti SDPO Ashwini Kumar said that Maoist Ranjit Bodra and PLFI cadre Sundar Pahan alias Nageshwar were in contact with Khunti SP Tamil Vanan and were convinced to surrender with two Maoists - Rohit Oraon and Narua Tirky of Nagri - whereas PLFI activist Arjun Singh surrendered with Pahan who was accused in many cases of arson, abduction and killing. Pahan was designated as area commander of the banned PLFI. The Naxalites also surrendered four single barrel guns, one 9mm pistol, live cartridges and five landmines weighing between 15-20 kilogrammes.

The SFs recovered a landmine under the road from Manoharpur to Digha in West Singhbhum District, the venue of Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh's visit. The landmine weighing around 15 kilograms was placed at the centre of the road, around 3.5 kilometres away from the venue in Salai village.

Union Rural Development Minister Ramesh released funds of INR 2.5 billion rupees for 'Saranda Action Plan' (SAP). The Action Plan which was prepared after recovering the area from the CPI-Maoist in 2011, targets 900 square kilometres of the Saranda forest range in West Singhbhum District of the State. Speaking to the media, Ramesh said that Maoists will be defeated with development, security and political participations of the people.

The SFs neutralised a CPI-Maoist bunker and a training camp in Latehar District. Latehar SP Kranti Kumar said the bunker and the training camp were neutralised during search operation by CRPF and the Police near Lawarnuri village under Barwadih Police Station. The SFs recovered explosives and other materials from there, SP Kranti Kumar added.

The Police recovered 150 double detonator boosters, which are used in exploding landmine blasts, near Koradag-Tolsandih village under Bundu Police Station in Ranchi District. The Police also recovered two country-made revolvers, one pistol, a gun and one 15 kilogrammes can bomb from there, the Police said.

Three Policemen, including an ASI, were killed and five others got injured when CPI-Maoist cadres triggered a landmine blast near an under-construction diversion on National Highway-99 close to Balumath Police Station in Latehar District. The Policemen were going in two jeeps from Chandwa to Balumath, around 75 kilometres from Ranchi. Since it was dark and the Maoists continued to fire at regular intervals it was difficult for the SFs to launch a rescue operation. The condition of one of the injured is said to be serious.

The SFs neutralised a Maoist training camp and four bunkers at different places in the Saniya forest in Latehar District and recovered a huge cache of explosives, Maoist literature, uniform, slings, detonators, ready-to-eat-food and food grain from the training camp and bunkers. The recoveries include 12 Chinese grenades and 36 IED, 100 kilograms of gun powder kept in two bags, a couple of country-made pistols and equal number of rifles. Around 1,400-metre wire, a detonating cord generally used in mining, electric wire and detonators were also recovered during the operation. "The amount of ready-to-eat-food and food grain seized from the training camp and bunkers show that at least 50 rebels used to stay there," said a source.

The bodyguard of the Garhwa zilla parishad chairperson, Suresh Ram, was released after being held captive by the CPI-Maoist cadres since January 21. The Maoists handed Ram over to human rights activist Shashi Bhushan Pathak who was requested to mediate in the matter.

The Jharkhand Police found the CPI-Maoist making profits from illegal coal trade through private coal companies when they conducted raids on companies in Bokaro District. "After watching their work for 12 days, Police conducted raids on three private coal companies and seized 2000 tonne of illegally dumped coal," DIG LP Singh said. Stating that the companies were situated near Maoist-affected areas near Lugu Pahar at Jhumra Hills, he said the Maoists were indulged in illegal coal trade allegedly through these companies. However, there were no arrests yet as the Police is still trying find the owners of the company.

The CRPF personnel recovered two IEDs during search operation planted by the CPI-Maoist in East Singhbhum District The IEDs were strategically planted at separate places at Chaukila and Mushabani with an aim to target the Police, SDPO Naresh Kumar said.

The CRPF personnel in the CPI-Maoist-hit area of Bundu District organized a community-policing programme to win the confidence of local people. The strategy has been adopted to bridge the gap between SFs and the public, especially youths, who are easily lured by the Maoist cadres. Residents from eight villages of the area were provided agricultural equipment, fogging machine, anti-malaria medicine, medicated mosquito nets, water filter and sports items as part of the civic action programme.

The Bokaro Police launched a massive hunt in an effort to check monetary flow to the Maoists from illegal coal-miners. In the past few days, the Police have seized around 2,200 tons of illegal coal from different places in Chandankyari and Nawadih areas of Bokaro District. The Police sources said a large part of the earnings from illegal coal mining went to Maoists. In case the miners defy the diktat of the Maoists, their business operations stopped. "Every year, at least INR 20-30 million goes to the Maoists and other Maoist groups from illegal mining in the area," said a source.

A fresh offensive against Maoists has been launched in Latehar District and it is being led by zonal IG Rezi Dungdung. As many as 15 to 20 companies (about 1500 to 2,000 personnel) of CRPF and State Police are taking part in the operations, Police sources said. The operation follows intelligence input about a large Maoists presence in the area. According to sources, the SF personnel had moved deep into the forests in and around Balumath and Manika Police Stations areas. Simultaneous operations are on in Saryu, Kone and Oreya area.

About 25 suspected cadres of the TPC, a break away faction of the CPI-Maoist, stalled the ongoing construction work of Tahley diversion on the Garhwa-Daltonganj road and shut down a brick kiln located near the Tahley river in Garhwa District. At both places, the TPC cadres assaulted the persons engaged in work. They also robbed of six cell phones from the labourers.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said that despite alarming escalation in CPI-Maoist violence in Jharkhand, no serious effort has been made by the State Government to deal with the LWE. In a letter to Chief Minister Arjun Munda, Chidambaram said Jharkhand became the most affected State in Naxal violence in 2011 and the situation there was a "major cause for concern". He asked Munda to galvanise the State Police leadership to take more pro-active steps. "Anti-Naxal operations in 2011 have been unfortunately ineffective. No serious efforts appear to have been made to launch a counter offensive when security forces personnel were killed by the CPI (Maoist)," Chidambaram said in the recent letter. Further, Jharkhand is the only LWE-affected State which has reported more snatching of arms in 2011 compared to the previous year. "Two top CPI (Maoist) leaders - Prashanto Bose alias Kishan da and Mihir Besra - are very active in the State, according to intelligence reports," the letter said. Chidambaram told Munda that the increase in Maoist activities were manifested by the alarming increase in the number of 'Jan Adalats' (so called people's courts) - 53 in 2011 compared to 25 in 2010. Through these Jan Adalats, the extremists have created a wave of terror amongst the people by publicly punishing those who 'disobey' their 'writ' in the State, he said.

An exchange of fire took place between the SF personnel and the CPI-Maoist cadres at Patung in West Singhbhum District. The incident took place after the Maoists opened fire on SF personnel, who were on long-range patrolling in the Maoist-dominated pockets. However, no casualties were reported from either side.

Three cadres of the PLFI, a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist, including an 'area commander', were arrested from Dhodhtritoli under Raidih Police Station in Gumla District. Gumla SP Jatin Narwal said the arrested PLFI cadres have been identified as 'area commander' Durjan Singh, Surendra Pal Singh and Bandhan Oraon - all residents of the same Police Station areas of the District. "Police recovered a country-made pistol, eight sim cards, a cell phone and four live bullets besides a dairy containing names of the persons from whom PLFI activists extorted levy," said the SP.

The SFs arrested five LWEs and recovered a cache of arms and ammunition in separate operations from across Gumla District. "We have arrested Durjan Singh, who is an agent of the banned outfit PLFI and was dreaded in several areas. In another incident, we have also taken into custody two criminals who had come here to kill a witness. We have also seized arms from them. We arrested them after they fired at us following a chase," Gumla SP Jatin Narwal said.

The two-day joint operation against the CPI-Maoist by the CRPF and District Police in the Pipra area, close to Bihar border, ended forcing the Maoists to escape.

Around 50 cadres of the JJSM, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, attacked the Tori railway siding of the CCL in Latehar District.

Garhwa District Police arrested five cadres of the JPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, and recovered a country-made gun, seven cell phones, 12 sim cards and hand-written pamphlets from them. The arrested JPC cadres are identified as Ravi Kumar, Sanoj Kumar and Kamlesh Kumar, residents of Majhigawan village, and Bimlesh Yadav and Lal Chand Yadav, both from Honhey village of Ranka.

Anup Bhuyan, an alleged cadre of JJP, a LWE group, was killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres in Latehar District. Bhuyan was picked up by the Maoists from his house at Kurungkhata village under Manika Police Station and shot dead, the Police said.

Maoists exchanged fire with cadres of the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, for about two hours at Karamtoli in Gumla District. However, there was no report of any casualty.

CPI-Maoist reportedly called a state-wide bandh in protest against the alleged killing of a deaf and mute youth by a CRPF troopers engaged in anti-Naxalite operations in Latehar forests.

Jharkhand Governor, Syed Ahmed expressed concern over LWE in the State and stressed the importance of curbing it.

The armed cadres of the CPI-Maoist abducted six labourers engaged in construction of a road under the PMGSY at Bengabad, under Bengawar Police Station near Baghmara in Giridih District. Rampati Kushwaha, the contractor of the Parditand-Sariya road project, said that a group of about 100 armed Maoists reached the makeshift camp shortly before midnight where the labourers were resting with their families and set ablaze four vehicles of the project and later, the Maoists abducted the six workers - identified as Nirmal Singh, Congress Das, Pravin Verma, Umesh Singh, Alam Ansari and Siraj Ansari - all from neighbouring Bihar at gunpoint.

The TPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist pasted posters in Balumath area of Latehar District, warning the upcoming power plants of dire consequences if they did not stop felling trees and give adequate compensation to the displaced families. The rebels pasted posters at Balumath to send a message to the displaced families to come forward for help from the organization.

The CPI-Maoist cadres released all the six labourers they had abducted in the night of February 18, the Giridih Police said. Giridih SP Arun G Onkar denied any ransom paid to the Maoists.

A total of 1300 powerful detonators were seized from a truck at Padma area on the NH-33 in Hazaribagh District. The driver and cleaner of the truck were arrested. The Police were investigating whether the consignment was meant for the Maoists.

The UMHA asked the State Government to identify top-five CPI-Maoist leaders active in the State and intensify operations in Saranda forests in West Singhbhum District.

Cadres of the CPI-Maoist fired indiscriminately at Balumath Police Station and a nearby camp of SF personnel in Latehar, leaving a man dead. The man was sleeping on the roadside when he was hit by a bullet fired by attacking Maoists. The Maoists were forced to retreat after retaliatory action by the SF personnel. No casualties have been reported from either side.

The Maoists blew up the vacant house of panchayat member, Rajendra Sahu in Latehar District.

The cadres of the PLFI, a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist, killed a schoolboy and his grandfather in Khunti District. According to Police, the PLFI cadres attacked the house of B.Y. Toppo, situated in Thunku village in the District, around 45 kilometres from Ranchi. The PLFI cadres killed the two of them and set their house on fire.

The one-day bandh called by the CPI-Maoist in all the 24 Districts of the State was largely peaceful. The bandh was called by the Maoists who are not in favour of changes in the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act (CNT).

Five top cadres of the CPI-Maoist, including four accused in the January 21 Bariganwa landmine blast that killed 13 Policemen, were arrested from Chatania and Parswar villages during a three-day anti-naxal operation in Garhwa District. The arrestees were identified as Arjun Yadav alias Arjan, Mohan Yadav, Surendra Prasad, Manish Prasad Gupta and Deb Sagar Yadav. All of them belong to Garhwa District and are wanted in murder and kidnapping incidents in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, SP Michael S Raj said.

Five cadres of the CPI-Maoist, including a woman, were arrested from a forest in Arki in Khunti District during a joint operation by the Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers. Four firearms, including a rifle, along with ammunition and some Maoist literature, including books on Maoist ideology and posters and a map of CRPF camp were recovered from them.

Two top Maoists, active in Jhumra since last 10 years, were arrested in another joint operation near Konar dam at Jamnijara village in Gomia block in Bokaro District. The arrested Maoists have been identified as Jatu Manjhi alias Nilamber and Naresh Manjhi alias Suresh. They both are residents of Simrabeda village of Gomia and close to Maoist leaders Navin Manjhi and Mithilesh Singh and are members of armed squad of the outfit.

The 197 battalion of CRPF recovered an Improvised Explosive Device hidden in a tiffin box and wires near an iron-ore loading point of Kiriburu railway station in West Singhbhum District.

12 villagers who were abducted by a group of 30-40 Maoists on March 2, were freed after holding them captive for more than 12 hours, at Keri Piprahi forest of Chouparan block in Hazaribagh District.

Two suspected cadres of the CPI-Maoist were killed and a CISF officer was injured in an encounter in the Central Coal Fields' Ashok project, close to the Pipawar Police Station in Chatra District. Police identified the dead as Tapeswar Ganju and Anil Ram. Two rifles, two hand grenades, two IEDs, two walkie-talkies and cartridges were recovered from the spot.

Bishnu Munda, a cadre of the PLFI, a break away faction of the CPI-Maoist, was arrested from Dwarseni village in Gumla District. A country-made pistol and Naxal-literature were recovered from him, he added.

The house of a 'zonal commander' of the CPI-Maoist was set ablaze at Kusmai village in Chatra District. A group of armed men went to the house of the Maoist, Dharmendra Yadav, asked the members to vacate their house before setting it on fire, the Police said. The arsonists also looted some property before setting ablaze the house, the sources said.

The CPI-Maoist cadres triggered two simultaneous land-mine blasts, targeting the vehicle carrying troopers of the IRB, at Tailyadeeh Mor in Chhatarpur block of Palamu District. ASP operations, Ronald Hansda, said the blasts at 12.24pm badly damaged the front portion of the vehicle, in which more than six IRB personnel were on their way to Devnar where an encounter had taken place between SFs and the Maoists at 9.45am. The IRB troopers, who were part of the reinforcement team, escaped unhurt.

A joint team of District Police and CRPF arrested CPI-Maoist 'sub-zonal commander' Phoolchand Soren alias Praveel Da, who was wanted in over 32 cases and carried a reward of INR 300, 000 on his head, along with his accomplice Bahdur Turi in a raid at Jamania village in Nawadih District. The joint team recovered one country-made revolver, cartridges, mobile handset, dairy and INR 2,300 cash from them.

The SF personnel recovered an IED, weighing five kilograms, hidden in milk can near Hutar village on Barwadih-Morbai road in Latehar District. Latehar SP G. Kranti Kumar confirming the recovery said, "It was defused within minutes and with that an attempt by Maoists to target security personnel was averted."

Cadres of the JJP, a splinter group of CPI-Maoist, reportedly attacked a railway construction site camp near Dhodhorha Pool at Dubang village in Lohardaga District, injuring more than four workers and technicians.

Two Maoist top cadres who had masterminded the killing of Bihar Policeman Lucas Tete (September 3, 2010) were arrested from Tisri forests under Belatand Police Station in Giridih District during a joint operation of the Police and CRPF.

The Police in Gumla District arrested three men with large quantities of explosives, detonators, arms and ammunition which were to be sold to the CPI-Maoist cadres in the State.

A Koderma Police team foiled an attempt made by the CPI-Maoist cadres to enter the Hazaribagh District through Rajwar forest under Satgawan Police Station.

The Jharkhand and West Bengal Police launched a combing operation in East Singhbhum District on the border between two States on information that a Maoist squad was in the area.

Pradeep Oraon (35), a former CPI-Maoist cadre was gunned down by cadres of the PLFI, a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist, in Duko village under Ghaghra Police Station in Gumla District. According to Police, Pradeep, formerly with CPI-Maoist, who later joined PLFI, had formed his own group after parting ways with PLFI some time ago which did not go along with 'area commander' Sukra Oraon and was killed.

A top CPI-Maoist and self-proclaimed 'area commander' of Jamui-Banka zone, Heera Yadav (40) surrendered before the Police in Giridih District. Yadav surrendered with a rifle, ten cartridges and some money in cash.

M Sanjeev Singh, a CRPF trooper of the CRPF's 26th Battalion, was injured during an encounter between the SFs and the CPI-Maoist cadres at Bouwa Pahari in Dongapani village under Tundi Police Station in Dhanbad District. The SFs had gone to the spot early in the morning after getting a tip-off about Maoists presence.

The armed cadres of the JPC, a splinter group of CPI-Maoist, set ablaze two bauxite trucks on fire at Modsirwa on Kisko-Richughuta road in Lohardaga District. One of the drivers was also assaulted. In a handwritten pamphlet, one Samir of JPC has claimed responsibility for setting the trucks on fire.

A constable of CoBRA, Satya Prakash Deswal, succumbed to bullet injuries and Jharkhand Jaguar havildar Sanjay Paswan was injured in an encounter with the CPI-Maoist deep inside the forest in Labhar picket under Burwadih Police Station in Latehar District.

The SFs recovered four IEDs, including three cylinder bombs, during search operations in Latehar District. The operation was launched in the District's Barwadih and Sarju area following an encounter with the CPI-Maoist cadres on April 5 in which one SF personnel was killed and another was injured.

Suspected cadres of the PLFI, a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist, attacked the project site of the PGCIL at Jargaon village under Bero Police Station in Ranchi District and set ablaze three heavy machines, including an earthmover, after assaulting the workers on duty. The cause of the attack was explained in a letter written by one Jetha of Rajdhani zonal committee of the PLFI, allegedly left at the site, saying that work there was started without the permission of the PLFI.

Seven SF personnel, engaged in anti-CPI-Maoist operations, sustained bullet injuries at Chemo Sanya forest under the Bhandaria Police Station in Garhwa District.

Palamu IG Deepak K Verma said that the anti-Maoist operation, code named 'Operation Octopus', launched since April 4 in Latehar District would continue. He refused to divulge any detail about the duration and the areas that would be covered under Operation 'Octopus'.

Suspected cadres of the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, set ablaze three vehicles, including two passenger jeeps and one tractor, near Binda village under Murhu Police Station of Khunti District.

The BSF Helicopter which was fired upon by the CPI-Maoist cadres on April 5 has been grounded now as it was damaged in the firing.

The East Singhbhum District Police recovered posters and banners, allegedly put up by the CPI-Maoist, demanding hike in tendu leaves procurement rate and support to the two-day bandh call given by CPI-Maoist in the bordering areas of three States, Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand from April 14 midnight.

Police arrested Jetha Lorenz Toppo, a 'self-styled zonal commander' of PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, in Ranchi District. The Police recovered a carbine from his possession.

The two-day bandh called by the CPI-Maoist in Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha affected the State's public transport. The bandh was called to demand 20 per cent increase in the rate of kendu leaves.

Speaking at the Chief Minister's meeting on internal security chaired by Prime Minister in New Delhi CM Arjun Munda asked the Central Government to bear a portion of the cost of modernization of Jharkhand Police to help it effectively tackle Naxalism in the state.

Speaking at the meeting of Chief Ministers in New Delhi, Chief Minister Arjun Munda demanded a special development package for CPI-Maoist-hit Latehar and Garhwa Districts in the line of ongoing Centre-sponsored Saranda Development Plan.

The two-day CPI-Maoist bandh called to raise procurement price of kendu leaves - used to make beedi - affected life in rural areas Jharkhand, especially in bordering areas of West Bengal, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The Maoists had called a two-day bandh that ended at April 16 midnight in the three States - Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres involved in the killing of a SPO were arrested from Badraiya forest in West Singhbhum District. The SF personnel also recovered a 30 kilogram claymore mine planted beneath a kutcha road in the forest. All the three cadres were involved in the killing of SPO Sushil Aian in Chotanagra in February 2012.

The SFs arrested Maoist leader Bitka Marandi alias Bitka Manjhi from Harli forest in Churchu tehsil in Hazaribagh District. Manjhi was wanted by Police for killing 13 SF personnel including 11 CRPF troopers in 2001.

An armed group of the CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze 10 vehicles belonging to a private construction company and held 14 of its employees hostage for sometime in Bandguda in Giridih District.

CM Arjun Munda laid the foundation stone for a building to house the 40th Battalion of ITBP at Sukuruhutu, on the outskirts of Ranchi. The new location of ITBP would help providing logistic and administrative support to units/formations of the ITBP in North-East and Maoist-affected states, an ITBP release said.

A dozen inter-state buses plying from Rourkela to Jharkhand, Bihar and Chhattisgarh remained suspended in the wake of the CPI-Maoist-48-hour bandh. There was, however, little or no impact at the vulnerable areas of Sundargarh District, close to Saranda forest in Jharkhand.

A Police team of the Bishnugarh Police Station arrested a top Maoist cadre, identified as Shiv Charan Manjhi, along with arms in Hazaribag District during raids in the dense forests near Konar Dam. Maoist literature, posters and arms, including revolver, six live cartridges, was recovered from him.

A 'sub-zonal commander' of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Mohit alias Manoj Yadav, was arrested from Matauli village in Palamu District. The Police recovered 105 live cartridges and a landmine weighing 10 kilograms.

A former 'squad commander' of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Sandeep Mishra, was arrested by the Police from Nagfeni on NH-23 in Gumla District. Mishra joined the outfit in 2001 and remained a part of it till 2009. Despite parting with the organization he was in regular touch with Maoist leaders Buddheshwar Oraon and Vishwanath.

Deputy inspector general (DIG) of coal belt region, Laxman Prasad Singh, and his CRPF counterpart, Rajeev Ranjan, conducted aerial surveillance of CPI-Maoist-hit Jhumra hills where SF personnel have recently launched Operation Thunder in search of Maoists. This was the third day of the anti-Maoist search operation in the area led by Bokaro Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Dwivedi under Gomia block. More than 1,000 district police personnel, Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP) and CRPF personnel have been pressed into action to carry out the operation.

In a joint anti-Maoist drive the SF personnel of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh were engaged in an encounter with the Maoists near Latu village in Latehar District, bordering Chhattisgarh and the state's Garhwa District.

Maoists beheaded a villager, Ramlal Kayam, at Kudaburu under Sonua Police Station in West Singhbhum District dubbing him a Police informer.

Palamu District Police and CRPF arrested Satender Paswan, a 'sub-zonal commander' of the CPI-Maoist at a house in Polpol village in Palamu District. The SFs recovered a country-made revolver of 315 bore from him.

Maoists detained Tata-Bilaspur passenger train at Posaita station in West Singhbhum District for nearly 20 minutes with a one-kilogram bomb hung from the front of its engine, ahead of the Bharat bandh on May 16. The train travelled for another 15 kilometres with the bomb dangling from the engine to Manoharpur station where it was removed and defused.

Normal life in the urban areas remained unaffected in East and West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan Districts during the Bharat bandh call given by the Maoists.

A principal aide of late CPI-Maoist leader Mallojula Koteswara Rao alias Kishanji was arrested from Ranchi railway station. The arrested Maoist has been identified as Nanduji alias Ramdas, who has worked as a secretary in Jammui zone and as a member of Bihar-Jharkhand-Odisha-North-Chhatisgrah special area committee. He was working as a member of sub-committee on political education. Police said Nanduji was engaged in training new recruits in various parts of Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha and Chhattisgrah.

Jharkhand Police recovered a cache of arms, including two guns, 32 bullets, four cell phones and 14 SIM cards of various networks from PLFI cadres after a shootout. PLFI is a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist. The shootout started when Police personnel raided a meeting place of the outfit near Karra village in Khunti District.

Two LWEs were arrested by the Police from two different places in Garhwa District. Sanjit Singh alias Sujit Singh alias Jamuna Singh, an 'area commander' of TPC, a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist was arrested from Nagar Untari in Garhwa District.

A Maoist cadre, identified as Santosh Vishwakarma, of Tali village was arrested by the Police from an area under Bhawnathpur Police Station in the Garhwa District. Vishwakarma was the right hand of Maoist 'zonal commander' Munna Vishwakarma.

The Maoists had stopped the construction works of the road on Rukki valley in Ghaghra block of Gumla District for over two months, despite the project having the backing of 25 villages located in the area.

Launching an anti-Naxal operation in the mining belt of Jharkhand, Security Forces, arrested seven suspected cadres of the PLFI, a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist, in Ranchi. The Police said the arrested PLFI cadres operated in and around the open cast mines of the Central Coalfields in Khelari near Ranchi and were wanted in more than half a dozen cases of murder, arson, illegal possession of arms. The arrested cadres include Kargil Yadav, identified as 'zonal commander' of the outfit, who was out on bail.

A powerful IED suspected to have been planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres was recovered by SFs in Jaranga village in Khunti District. The IED, weighing 25 kilograms, was found hidden during routine search at a spot falling under Adki Police Station.

Ranvidar Bhuinya, 'zonal commander' of the PLFI, and his associate were arrested from Daltonganj in Palamu District. Bhuinya had earlier worked with the CPI-Maoist and later joined the PLFI. Two country made pistols were also seized from them.

A joint team of CRPF and Bishnugarh Police team CPI-Maoist 'Zonal Commander' Navin Manjhi alias Banshi in the dense Gidhania forest under Bishnugarh Police Station in Hazaribagh District. Manjhi carried a reward of INR 500, 000 on his head and was involved in more than 100 Maoist related violence in the state.

Chief Minister Arjun Munda approved the proposal of the State Home Department to announce reward on 10 Maoist leaders operating in the State. The reward money ranges from INR 300, 000 to INR 500, 000 on each Maoist depending on his involvement in illegal activities. The 10 Maoists on whom the Government announced the reward include two 'zonal commanders' and three 'sub-zonal commanders'. The 'zonal commanders' carrying a reward of INR 500, 000 each are Sushil Bhuiyan and Indel Yadav. The three 'sub-zonal commanders' with INR 300, 000 reward each are Satyendra Paswan, Pramod Paswan and Vinod Yadav.

Cadres of the TPC-1 set ablaze 65 sacks of kendu leaves worth INR 100,000 in Hetla village in Latehar District. TPC-1 is a breakaway group of TPC, which in turn is a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist. Sources said the consignment belonged to a contractor, who refused to pay extortion.

Police arrested a Maoist sympathizer, Janeshwar Yadav, and recovered INR 878,000 from his possession in Chiniya Police Station limits in Garhwa District. He had collected the money from tendu leaf contractors. Garhwa Superintendent of Police Michael Raj S said that Police also recovered 10 detonators and a good number of Maoist literature from him.

During a joint operation against Maoists in Gumla District, Police and Paramilitary Forces arrested a Maoist identified as Gauri Shankar Pandey. Police officials also seized large quantities of arms, ammunitions and ration from his possession.

Sitaram Manjhi alias Sitaram Soren (40), the president of Jharkhand Mukti Manch, a frontal organization of CPI-Maoist and his close aide Mehboob Ansari alias Karu Ansari (38) were arrested by a joint team of CRPF and Police from a roadside hotel at Goniyato village in Gomia tehsil in Bokaro District. Sources said Manjhi and Ansari were residents of Barsabeda and Kacho villages in Nawadih Police Station area. Both were in the Maoist fold for over 10 years. The rebels were involved in over two dozen cases of violence in Bokaro and Hazaribagh, including a landmine blast that killed eight Special Task Force troopers at Sarubeda, five kilometres from Nawadih, on June 12, 2009.

Police intercepted a consignment and recovered cash worth INR 1.48 million at Panki in Palamu District of Jharkhand in the evening. The money was to be handed over to a CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Manoj Ganjhu. Sources said two persons identified as Ram Jatan Yadav and Shailender Singh have been arrested and one pistol of 7.65 bore was recovered from one of them. Police also seized a white car.

An action-squad member of the CPI-Maoist identified as Kamlesh alias Indrajit Yadav was arrested from a place at Damaran under Ranka Police Station in Garhwa District. Yadav was one of the Maoists involved in the two attacks that had killed 23 Policemen in Garhwa and Latehar Districts in December 3, 2011 and January 21, 2012, Superintendent of Police (SP) Michael S Raj said. A 9mm pistol, which he had looted after killing Police official Rajbali Choudhary on January 21, was recovered from him, the SP added.

Fogra Munda (37), a 'commander' of the CPI-Maoist, was arrested by Police from Ghatshila in East Singhbhum. Munda was wanted in over 12 cases including eight murder cases and he carried a cash reward of INR 40,000 on his head. Police also recovered firearms and explosives from him. Munda is said to be the close aide of another top Maoist leader Kanu Munda, the squad leader of the Gurabanda area.

Maoists killed Bhuneshwar Yadav, a contractor, in Latehar District for refusing to give extortion money.

21 landmines, planted serially on the Kurung-Ganeshpur path in Latehar District, were recovered during an anti-Maoist operation. The landmines, weighed between one kg to 10 kg.

SFs arrested two top Maoists, a 'sub-zonal commander' and an 'area commander' from Goindi village in Latehar District. While the former was identified as Pramod Kumar, the later was identified as Akul Singh. Pramod carrying INR 300, 000 on his head, faces 24 Maoist-related cases in Palamau division. A 9mm pistol and seven bullets were recovered from them.

DGP G S Rath said 308 newly selected Sub-Inspectors (SIs) would start receiving training from June 10 at the Police Academy set up recently in Hazaribag. In the newly constructed police academy, the SIs would be given training in the most scientific ways using all the latest equipment, he said. The training is designed especially to combat terrorists, Maoists.

Two suspected Maoists were arrested after a failed attempt to abduct Pitabasa Mahto (75), a former sarpanch of Bansa village in Kandra in Seraikela-Kharsawan District. The arrestees have been identified as Rakesh Lohar and Sushen Mahto alias Naren, both residents of Kandra.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has set up camps in Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist)-infested villages of Jharkhand to combat Left Wing Extremism (LWE) and bridge the gap between villagers and Security Force (SF) personnel, reports newstrackindia.com quoting ANI. The CRPF and Jharkhand Police have launched joint operations in Sarju village of Jharkhand's Latehar District to flush out rebels operating in the area. Inspector General of Police, Palamu Range, Deepak Verma, said the presence of the SFs in the village would increase employment opportunities for locals. Villagers expressed happiness over the presence of paramilitary camps and said the situation would improve with the presence of SFs in the area.

Maoists set ablaze machines that were being used at an under construction railway expansion project site, and stalled development projects undertaken by the state government in Lohardaga District.

Maoists killed two persons at Kuitopa village under the Keraikela Police Station area in the West Singhbhum District, suspecting them to be Police informers. Sources said a group of about 15 armed Maoists raided the house of village head Yugal Kishore Tanti and Jeevlal Swansi, dragged out of their houses and took them to the Kuitopa culvert before they were shot dead. While Tanti was the traditional village head of Kuitopa, Swansi was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Yuva Morcha president of Bandgaon block.

Director General of the CRPF K Vijay Kumar asked his personnel to launch inter-state operations on the borders of Bihar, Odisha and Chhattisgarh besides the core areas of Maoists in Jharkhand.

A PLFI cadre was killed in an encounter with Police at Parswa village under Panki Police Station in Palamu District. The identity of the extremist is yet to be established.

Five Naxalites, including the one identified as Laka Pahan, an 'area commander' of the PLFI, were arrested from Anidih village in Khunti District of Jharkhand. Laka Pahan is wanted in over 20 naxal-related cases in Khunti and Ranchi Districts. Three guns, bullets, six mobile phones, ten sim cards and INR 7,000 were seized from their possession.

A mini gun factory was unearthed from Pinjani village under Kunda Police Station in Chatra District. Police arrested two persons, identified as Ramdhani Mistry (45) and Ram Chandra Mistry (30), repairing guns in the factory. Chatra Superintendent of Police (SP) Anup Birthary said five country-made guns, one pistol, three mobile phones, two cameras, firing pins and other machines were recovered from the spot. "Those arrested are not Naxalites but they provide support to the rebels. The arrested are being interrogated," said the SP.

The District Police arrested five cadres of the TPC-1 from Daltonganj in Palamu District. TPC-1 is a breakaway group of TPC, which in turn is a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist. SP Anoop T Mathew said Rang Bahadur Singh, the TPC-1 leader, had been arrested and along with four other cadres.

A top cadre of the 'Hooghly Zonal Committee' of the CPI-Maoist was arrested while collecting INR 400,000 as levy from an accomplice at Narga in East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand. The Maoist accomplice was also arrested by the Police.

The Jharkhand Government approved the new industrial policy, giving a plethora of incentives to investors, including those setting up industries in Maoist-affected areas.

A Maoist, identified as Pragti Da, fell prey to a tiger in Bundu forest, around 35 kilometres from Ranchi District. This was confirmed by Maoist 'zonal commander' Kundan Pahan in his letter to the fellow comrades.

Ram Mohan Singh Munda, a close aide of Pahan was arrested from Tamar block in Ranchi District.

The Bokaro District administration have initiated mega development action plan concentrating specially on Jhumra and Upper ghat areas, the two most sensitive Maoist zones of the state, in Gomia and Nawadih blocks of Bokaro District.

Two suspected Naxals were arrested in Gumla District. One of them was a Maoist, identified as Ibrahim Mian who was arrested at Chenpur. The other extremist belonged to PLFI and was identified as Kuleshwar Sahu. He arrested from Lawakera village under Palkot Police Station. One locally-make gun was seized from each of the extremists, besides some bullets.

Charges were framed by a local court against CPI-Maoist Politburo member Narayan Sanyal for looting arms from a home guard camp in Giridih District. Giridih District and Sessions Court judge A K Singh framed the charges in Sanyal's presence. 193 weapons were looted from the camp under Nagar Police Station in 2005.

Jharkhand Police announced a cash reward of upto INR 1.2 million on the heads of hardcore CPI-Maoist cadres. "The upper limit is Rs 12 lakh and the lowest is Rs 30, 000," Inspector General of Police S N Pradhan said. Out of 150 hardcore Maoists in the State, a list of 111 Maoists, including 30 from other State, was released by the Police headquarters, Pradhan said.

After successful operations against the Maoists in West Singhbhum and Latehar Districts, Jharkhand Police said they would mount pressure on the Maoists despite the monsoons. "Operation will continue even during the monsoon. The Security Forces had carried out the successful Saranda operation (in West Singhbhum) by flushing out the Maoists in July last year. If we can do it in Saranda in monsoon, we can do it anywhere," Inspector General of Police (Operation) S N Bhagat said.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested by the SF personnel during the ongoing anti-Maoist operation from Ranka forest in Seraikela-Kharsawan District of Jharkhand. The arrested Maoists were identified as Thumba Paharia, a hardcore Maoist and his accomplices John Purty and Bhudu Munda. The Police recovered three country-made pistols, two magazines, wire and explosives.

In a change of strategy, the CPI-Maoist has decided to call off violence against armed outfits, including their splinter groups, for three months. The Maoists have invited leaders of other groups to come together on one platform and fight against the unified command of the Centre and the State Governments carrying out Operation Green Hunt. Bihar Jharkhand North Chhattisgarh Special Area Committee (BJNCSAC) spokesman Gopal in a statement issued on June 24 said the decision of unilateral ceasefire was taken to invite the other armed groups working in individual capacity for the common people to work from a unified and stronger front. "We can set aside our personal differences in ideology for the betterment of common people and when the government is harassing villagers and trying to suppress their movement for neo-democracy, all the groups must understand the need of the hour and join hands," the release reads. The appeal has been issued in the name of the People Liberation Front of India (PLFI), Jharkhand Liberation Tigers (JLT), Jharkhand Janmukti Parishad (JJMP), Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC), Shashtra People's Morcha (SPM) and any other such armed group working for people's cause.

Maoists in Hazaribagh and Giridih are distributing pamphlets among rural youths for a week asking them to refrain from applying for jobs in the Police. The pamphlet, which has been distributed widely in Pirtanda area of Giridih and Vishnugarh, Hazaribagh, has urged people to prevent their sons from joining the Police Force, claiming security personnel were killing innocent lives.

A PLFI 'sub-zonal commander' who was involved in at least 20 cases of extortion and killing was arrested from Kutasi village on the Koel river in Gumla District by a Police team. The arrested extremist has been identified as Gobardhan Singh alias Rajendra, a resident of Kedli village in Basia, in Gumla.

Seraikela-Kharsawan Superintendent of Police (SP) Upendra Kumar gave out kits containing a bow, 10 arrows, shoes, socks and a torch to around 100 members of rural vigilante group Dalma Anchalik Suraksha Samiti (DASS).

The Police seized over 13,000 detonators and one ton of explosive material in Ranchi District ahead of the bandh called by Maoists on June 27. Three suspected Maoists and four arms suppliers were arrested in the case. Acting on a tip-off, the Police raided some places at Tupudana on the outskirts of Ranchi and recovered the explosives. A total of 3,795 electronic detonators, about 9,800 ordinary detonators, one ton explosives, including nine quintal ammonium nitrate, 1,900 metre fuse wire, six gelatin pieces, INR 20,000 in cash, four mobile phones and a motorcycle were seized during the search operation. Police said, "The arrested persons were preparing to hand over the explosives to Kundan Pahan, the most wanted Maoist."

One policeman was killed and 12 other were injured when CPI-Maoist cadres ambushed their mini-bus near Topchachi Police Station in Dhanbad District. Two of the injured are said to be in critical condition.

Maoists blew up railway tracks between Taitulmuri and Nisitpur railway stations under Dhanbad railway division.

Maoists also blasted a bridge near Chhatapur village of Giridih District that connects Giridih with Dhanbad.

The Maoists observed bandh (shutdown strike) in five States to protest the conviction of five Maoists by a court in Uttar Pradesh.

Three civilians were injured as cadres of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) fired on passengers of an auto-rickshaw that was passing through Nathbalwa village in Manika area of Latehar District in the night.

The Maoists, then, struck again, blowing up the Pochara Panchayat (village level local self-government institution) building. According to sources, a group of 20-25 armed Maoists orchestrated the blast, but since the building was empty, no one was injured.

Policemen posing as farmers arrested Ravi Ghodai (20), an armed cadre of the CPI-Maoist Ghurabandha squad, while he was crossing a bridge over the Subernarekha at Dalbhumgarh in Ghatshila sub-division in East Singhbhum District. He was part of a two member squad heading for Dalbhumgarh to carry out a poster campaign and a recce for planting explosives. The other Maoist managed to escape. The Police seized a loaded pistol and an empty cartridge from Ghodai's possession. Ghodai divulged that he belonged to the 15-member squad led by Maoist 'zonal commander' Kanhu Munda, which is active in Ghurabandha.

Suspected CPI-Maoist cadres killed three civilians, including an elderly woman, and injured another woman over a land dispute between two families in Sehal-Tetartoli village under the Ghaghra Police Station in Gumla District. The victims have been identified as Jaipal Yadav (50), his brother and retired army man Jagdish Yadav (48) and his mother-in-law Batti Devi while, the injured woman has been identified as Jaipal's wife Sumitra Devi.

The Maoists set ablaze a drilling machine of a coal survey team in Latehar District. The Maoists had also picked up a munshi engaged to oversee construction of a panchayat building before letting him off during the day.

Suspected cadres of Jhangur faction of the Jharkhand Sangharsha Jan Mukti Morcha (JSJMM), an LWE outfit, abducted and killed one of their members at Arangloya village under Bishunpur Police Station in Gumla District. Police recovered the body of the deceased and identified as Rajendra Oraon who was with Ramdeo Oraon-led Jhangur faction of JSJMM.

Police recovered two kilograms of ammonium nitrate and five detonators which were being supplied to Maoist 'sub-zonal commander' Budheswar Oraon and arrested one person, identified as Mohammad Imitiaz, at Toto village in Gumla District.

The CPI-Maoist is losing its base in North Chhotanagpur zone of Jharkhand, comprising seven Districts of Dhanbad, Bokaro, Koderma, Giridih, Chatra, Hazaribagh and Ramgarh, said Inspector General of Police of North Chhotanagpur zone, M L Meena. Meena said that the Maoists at present have confined their presence and movement to Jhumra and Upperghat in Bokaro, Pirtanda, Parasnath and Tundi belt in Giridih and Dhanbad beside Gaya-Palamu border areas in Chatra.

Four CPI-Maoist cadres were injured and two arrested in a five-hour long encounter between Police and Maoists at Jamdaha in Pirtanda of Giridih District, on the Dhanbad-Giridih border.

The driver of a construction company, identified as Md Ismail Ansari (34), was shot dead by the PLFI cadres in Bandgaon Police Station area in West Singhbhum District. Ansari was engaged in the construction of a road between Bandgaon and Lyangi village under PMGSY. The extremists shot Ansari only because the company did not intimate the outfit about the road construction to it, Police said referring leaflets recovered from the spot. The leaflets were issued by Munna ji, the 'area commander' of PLFI Chotanagpur Region Committee.

The Police arrested a suspect, Manoj Kumar Sinha of Patamda in the East Singhbhum District, for carrying 200 pieces of detonators and 50 kilograms of ammonium nitrate on his car a during surprise checking on National Highway-33 in Seraikela-Kharsawan District.

Vaisakhi Munda, a CPI-Maoist sympathiser and wife of hardcore Maoist leader Kanu Munda, was arrested from Dalbhumgarh in Ghatsila sub-division in East Singhbhum District of Jharkhand.

Getting input of a huge gathering of armed guerrillas of the CPI-Maoist in forests of Palamu and Latehar in Jharkhand, the Centre asked the State Police and Paramilitary forces to urgently induct additional troops and carry out sustained search for "either engaging them in operations or disintegrate them".

Meanwhile, SFs have launched a major operation in the forests bordering Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh after it was reported that a large group of Maoist commanders have been spotted in the area.

Two cadres of the PLFI, a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist, were lynched by residents of Siyang village under Sisai Police Station in Gumla District of Jharkhand. The slain cadres have been identified as Indrajeet Oraon of Dahutoli and Rama Oraon from Shivnathpur village.

Ajay Ganjhu alias Parasji (45), a top CPI-Maoist leader, was killed in a joint operation by the Jharkhand Police and the CRPF in Kunda forest in Chatra District of Jharkhand. Ganjhu, who had been heading the Bihar-Jharkhand regional committee of the CPI-Maoist, carried INR 1.7 million on his head.

The Police engaged in an encounter with the Maoists after raiding a Maoist hideout in Asandera forest area of Simdega District. Four can bombs, three cylinder bombs, 25 rounds of ammunition, Maoist literature and household utensils were recovered from the spot.

Bamboo plantation work at Temrai in Palamu District's Chainpur forest range has come to a standstill since July 16 following resistance from TPC, a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist, over collection of ransom.

Children are migrating from Jharkhand's Lohardaga region to avoid being abducted and coercively recruited by Maoists. "Maoists ask us to get involve with them and force us to take up arms," Dinesh Nageshiya, a student, claimed. SDPO Ram Gulam Sharma said that social policing has helped them to keep a track of Maoists who forcibly recruit children for armed conflict.

Armed Maoist cadres ambushed SFs in Khunti Districts, killing two CRPF personnel and leaving an officer and four others injured. A 100-strong squad of Maoist 'sub-zonal commander' Matiyas targeted a troop of 80 CRPF personnel - culled from the elite CoBRA force and the 94th and 60th battalions near a government school in Bokob village in Khunti District while the personnel were preparing to cordon off the village following a tip-off on Maoist presence.

In a Maoist attack two labourers were killed and some buildings were damaged in Giridih District. Maoist opened attack on an under-construction building of Police line and destroyed the roof under which the labourers were on duty. The two labourers who died were part of other labourers working under the roof. An unexploded IED weighing 30 kilograms was also recovered and defused.

SFs and Maoists were involved in an encounter in a forest in Chowka, in Seraikela-Kharsawan District. "No casualty was reported in the operation but we have collected empty cartridges that were fired by the rebels," said ASP, operation, Deepak Kumar Sinha.

Jharkhand has made negligible progress in construction of roads under a three-year-old central plan meant for LWE-affected areas, with neighbouring Odisha faring a tad better. The State has so far built 35km of the 753km approved in 2009. Odisha, on the other hand, boasts 93km as against the targeted 614km.

To take minor away from the CPI-Maoist way, Jharkhand Government has decided to provide conditional free education in private institutions to Maoists, who surrender, and to their children in addition to the existing surrender policy. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arjun Munda.

An encounter between SFs and CPI-Maoist cadres took place at Bandu forest in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand. According to Police, the Maoists may have suffered injuries in the encounter as bloodstains were found on the side from where they were firing. No casualty was reported from the Paramilitary Forces.

The Hazaribag District Police arrested three cadres of the JLT, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. Hazaribag SP Manoj Kaushik said the gang was responsible for stalling coal production at Tapin South opencast coal mining project of the CCL under the Charhi Police Station of the District recently. Those arrested include the hotel owner Rajeev Vishwakarma, kingpin Anuj Vishwakarma alias Badalji alias Pintu of Navraga village under the Lesliganj Police Station of Palamu District. The others arrested are Mannu Kumar Singh of Charhi. Police said it was Mannu's plan to demand INR 15 million as extortion from the coal company.

Tribal students are migrating from villages of Simdega, Lohardaga and Gumla Districts to towns fearing forceful induction by the CPI-Maoist and the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist. Police sources said around 100 students had already migrated from villages of these Districts in the past one year fearing the Maoists and PLFI.

Two cadres of the CPI-Maoist were arrested while allegedly planting landmines underneath a road bridge at Revet village in Latehar District to target SFs, Police sources said. Ten more persons have also been detained by SFs during the anti-Maoist operation for interrogation.

Two CPI-Maoist camps were busted by the SFs and five Maoist cadres arrested during the three-day operation 'Rain Storm' against the CPI-Maoist in Garhwa District on Jharkhand-Chhattisgarh borders. Twelve landmines, two hand grenades and Maoist literature were recovered from the two camps, which were destroyed during the joint operation carried out between July 27 and 30.

The CPI-Maoist cadres began a poster campaign at Chowka in Seraikela-Kharsawan District of Jharkhand, amid their ongoing martyrs' week [July 28-August 3]. The posters, bearing anti-CRPF messages in red ink, were pasted on the boundary walls of school buildings and at marketplaces as well as in Chaulibasa and Ghagri villages in the interiors of Chowka, known to be an industrial hub and also a Maoist stronghold. According to intelligence sources, the Maoists were also holding small meetings at a number of places in West Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan Districts.

The bullet-ridden body of a youth identified as Maqbool, a resident of Girda village in Bano Police Station area in Simdega District of Jharkhand was found near his village. While, it was not sure who killed Maqbool, a Police source said cadres of the PLFI, a break away faction of the CPI-Maoist, with whom he had some links, might have killed the victim, possibly over levy collection.

A CRPF trooper was injured in a gun battle between joint Forces and Maoists in Telipati forest in Panki Police Station area in Palamau District. The Police claimed that several Maoists were killed in the encounter, though not a single body has been recovered yet. The Police seized five powerful landmines and over 1,000 metres of electric wires from the encounter site.

SFs recovered 130 can bombs planted on a 500 meter stretch at Raka under Chowka Police Station area in Seraikela-Kharsawan District, suspected to be planted by the Maoists. Each bomb weighed about one kilogram. It took more than six hours to pull out the landmines from beneath the earth.

SFs launched an operation on the Jharkhand-Chhattisgarh border to flush out CPI-Maoist cadres. The operation has been dubbed 'Operation Marangdeo'. The offensive, which would also be carried out at night, was launched to prevent Maoists from entering Jharkhand particularly through the border of Palamu and Garhwa Districts, said Anil Minz, Commandant of the 34 battalion, CRPF. The CRPF would be assisted by the Police in the operation, he said.

A CPI-Maoist cadre identified as Vikash, allegedly involved in an attack on Police party that had killed two personnel in Dhanbad during Maoist bandh a few weeks ago was arrested at a place under Muffasil Police Station in Giridih District of Jharkhand.

A special Police team from Rajasthan launched joint operations with the Palamu District Police and arrested two persons, including a CPI-Maoist cadre, identified as Vinay Ram in connection with a dacoity incident in Jaipur [Rajasthan, in July] and recovered jewellery worth INR 7 million, Police said.

Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State of Home Affairs, in a written reply informed Rajya Sabha that at present, 105 companies of CRPF, 36 companies of BSF, 15 companies of ITBP and 50 Teams of CoBRA in Chhattisgarh and 96 companies of CRPF and 36 Teams of CoBRA in Jharkhand have been deployed for anti-naxal operations.

Chander Ganjhu alias Johnson, 'zonal commander' of the CPI-Maoist was arrested along with his wife, Anita alias Budhni, about a kilometer away from the Posaita railway station near Rongo village from Manoharpur Police Station area of West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand. Johnson a mastermind of several Maoist-related incidents hails from Keredari area in Hazaribag District and was wanted in over 30 cases, including the Manoharpur rail track blast case, 2009 while his wife Anita, a resident of Ranchi District, also a hardcore Maoist, too is co-accused in several criminal incidents. A country-made revolver, two live cartridges and a cash of INR 17,100 was recovered from the arrested Maoists.

The Sonuwa Police arrested suspected Maoist sympathizers Tooti Barjo and Bidrai Soy; both are active members of the Krantikari Kisan Committee (KKC).

At least three Naxalites are reported to have been killed in a gun battle between CPI-Maoist cadres and the JPC in Arabhusai forest of Katkamsandi, Hazaribagh District of Jharkhand. Unconfirmed sources said that among those killed in the turf war was JPC supremo Kaljit. The gun battle might have been spurred by the death of a Maoist cadre who was killed by JPC in an encounter in Panki forest area of Palamau District in the night of August 9, Police said.

The INR 4 billion 'Sarju Development Plan' aiming to develop the 'guerilla zone' of Sarju in Latehar District on the border of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh with a special focus on skill and infrastructure development, will be formally submitted to the Union Rural Development Minister, Jairam Ramesh, during his visit two-day visit to the State.

JPC, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, pasted posters warning the Maoists that they would be rooted out from Jharkhand and the country. Police sources said the posters appeared in Katkamsandi, Ichak and Barkagaon Police Station areas in Hazaribagh District, which were later removed, read 'Jharkhand ke nav nirman liye maowadion ko khatam karo, maowadi desh ka dushman hai, maowadi ko Jar se khatam karo (Maoists will be rooted out as they are the enemies of Jharkhand and the country)'.

Two cadres of the TPC, a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Mohit Mahto and Kamlesh Mahto, were arrested during joint operation conducted by the SF personnel of Giddi and Urimari Police Stations in Hazaribag District of Jharkhand. The Police recovered two single barrel rifles, four 8 mm live cartridges, two cell phones and six set of brand new olive green uniforms with names of members inscribed on them.

Charku Pahan alias Budhu Munda, 'area commander' of the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, surrendered with a 9mm pistol and three bullets before SP M Tamilvanan in Khunti District.

Four CPI-Maoist cadres were arrested, one of whom was wanted for attack on the convoy of former chief minister Babulal Marandi, and explosives were seized at separate places in Jharkhand's Bokaro and Giridih Districts. Jailal Mahato and Mahendra Mahato were arrested in Bokaro's Patharwa village and explosives were seized from their possession. The other two Maoists, Ravi Marandi and Deep Chand Kisku were arrested at a place under Dumri police station of Giridih District.

SFs recovered one can-bomb and one pipe bomb suspected to be planted by the CPI-Maoist cadres between Ramatandi and Namolepo villages under Ghorabandha Police Station in Ghatsila sub-division of East Singhbhum District. SFs also seized 200 meters of wire from the spot.

Director General of Police G S Rath praised Policemen saying that seized documents from Naxalites revealed that the outfit has suffered maximum loss in Jharkhand.

Rath pointed out that for the first time in past 18 years appointment of SIs in the state has taken place. But still there is a need of more officers. State Police requires 1000-1200 sub-inspectors of which few hundred vacancies have been filled up but still 700 more officers are yet to be recruited. There is also shortage of officials in direct DSP ranks.

PLFI cadres killed an unmarried couple for maintaining a live-in relationship in Atheldih village in Khunti District. The victims were identified as Sanjay Purty and Itwari Oriya.

The PLFI cadres also allegedly killed one of their colleagues who apparently opposed this sort of moral policing. A body, suspected to be that of the killed PLFI cadre, was recovered from a nearby jungle.

Police arrested Shyamlal Yadav alias Dhananjayji, a 'sub-zonal commander' of the CPI-Maoists, and one of his aides, identified as Prem Sahu. Dhananjayji carried a reward of INR 300,000 on his head. A 7.65 bore country-made pistol, a country-made firearm, several bullets and three mobile phones were recovered from Dhananjayji's possession.

Anil Yadav, the head of the CPI-Maoist 'armoury' section in Bihar and Jharkhand, and a arms supplier Prafulla Malakar alias Pankaj were arrested form Silodar forests on the border of Chouparan tehsil in Hazaribagh District Jharkhand and Barachatti in Gaya District of Bihar. On a tip-off, a special task force first arrested Malakar and seized arms from him and later arrested Yadav when he arrived at the spot with INR 800,000 to purchase the weapons, Hazaribagh SP Manoj Kaushik said. The seizure included a US-made rifle inscribed Colt M-16 and 14 ammunition of 5.56 mm cartridges, used by the US Army, a 9-mm Italian-made pistol, one bullet-proof jacket worth INR 400,000, manufactured by a company of Manchester in the United Kingdom. Malakar informed the interrogators that he had recently supplied four AK-47 rifles, two AK-56 rifles and three other Self Loading Rifles to Yadav.

Two CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Tribhuvan Singh Munda and Ganesh Singh of the Ramu alias Machchar group in Kolad village under Bundu Police Station, were arrested by the Ranchi Police along with a 20kg can-bomb and several detonators in Ranchi District. The police also recovered a 9mm pistol from their possession.

It came to light that children in Maoist-affected areas of East Singhbhum District carry bows and arrows to school, fearing attacks from the Maoists.

A three-member team of NIA from Delhi visited Silodar forest located on the border of Barachatti Police Station of Gaya District (Bihar) and Chouparan Police Station in Hazaribag District (Jharkhand) from where foreign made weapons were recovered on August 29.

ITwo women CPI-Maoist cadres, wanted in connection with the ambush of six Policemen in 2009, were arrested in Latehar District. The arrested Maoists, identified as Somanti and Sunita, were part of the firing squad led by Maoist 'sub-zonal commander' Lokesh.

IThree Naxals, associated with two different organizations, were arrested from Khunti District. One of them belonging to Village Republican Guard of India was arrested with one rifle, around 55 pieces of live ammunition, three mobile phones and some cash. The two other arrested extremists belonging to PLFI were identified as Harduban Hansoi and Mansid Hansoi.

As part of its drive against the CPI-Maoist, the Jharkhand Police has replaced all the .303 rifles with INSAS for its combat forces. Informing that the State Police were being equipped with modern gadgets every month, ADGP (Training & Modernisation) Bibhuti Bhusan Pradhan said recently a few new anti-landmine vehicles were added to the already over 100 such vehicles to scourge into the deep forests during anti-Maoist operations.

Development work would be expedited in Saranda, Asia's largest saal forest, after it was freed from Naxal activities, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said. Addressing a public meeting at Digha in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand, Ramesh also apologized to the people for the tardy pace of development work due to the Naxal activities.

Three extremists, who escaped from the TPC, a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist, were arrested in Ganjhar under Giddi PS of Hazaribag District.

The State Police are now working on the modalities to start using CRPF in operations against the PLFI, a banned LWE outfit, as they have been doing in case of the CPI-Maoist.

The Police foiled a major plot by the CPI-Maoist cadres to target SFs by recovering 125 inter-connected IEDs in Khunti District in Jharkhand. The IEDs were recovered after inputs were provided by Sunil Kerketa, a Maoist arrested in the morning of the same day at Bano in the neighbouring Simdega District.

Police arrested two hardcore Maoist cadres in Hazaribagh District.

Jeetendra, a CPI-Maoist cadre was killed and three SF personnel were injured during a gun battle at a forest in Judigaon village under Pratappur Police Station area in Chatra District of Jharkhand. On a tip off that a 30-member Maoist squad of Banarasi Yadav alias Raghuvanshi had taken shelter in the area, a joint team of JAP personnel and CoBRA troopers rushed to the spot, where the Maoists opened indiscriminate fire and in the ensuing encounter, deputy commandant of CoBRA battalion P.R. Mishra, trooper Mukesh Bunker and a Policeman, Sanjay Yadav suffered injuries while the Maoist was killed. Chatra SP Anup Birtheray said his team later recovered an AK-47 rifle, two country made rifles, one pistol, 200 live cartridges, INR 40,000 in cash, Maoist literature and four cell phones.

The interrogation of four PLFI cadres, who were recently arrested in Simdega District, revealed that PLFI used to manufacture arms in the jungles. SP Prabhat Kumar of Simdega District, said: "PLFI cadres bring weapon manufacturing experts from outside and produce weapons by setting up small camps in forests. Police revealed that the names of Naxal leaders Gujju Gope and Dinesh Gope were inscribed on the weapons recovered by them.

The Police claimed to have shot dead four CPI-Maoist cadres during an hour-long encounter near Gurdag village in Latehar District of Jharkhand. Acting on a tip-off that some extremists had assembled near the village, CRPF personnel and the District Police cornered them and in the ensuring encounter four of them were killed. Three rifles, 33 cartridges, INR 2,500 and some other materials were recovered from the encounter spot.

Prabil Ganjhu alias Prabilda alias Palamau Da, a CPI-Maoist 'area commander' was arrested in a joint operation by Hazaribagh and Ranchi Police in Ranchi District. On a tip-off that Ganjhu had opened a ration shop at Ladgaon under Sikidri Police Station of Ranchi District, the Police of the two Districts arrested him. Ganjhu was wanted in 35 cases, including killing over a dozen villagers and Police personnel in Hazaribagh and Chatra Districts since 2005 and carrying a reward of INR 50,000 on his head.

Two persons identified as Enu Ohdar (16) and Rajendra Singh (18), were killed allegedly by the cadres of PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist, in Khunti District in Jharkhand. The PLFI cadres reportedly dragged out the duo from their homes at gunpoint and killed them at the village chowk in Gadsitam in the District.

Kalawati Devi (39), zilla parishad member and vice-president of the District BJP's women's wing was abducted from her home apparently for refusing to pay levy, and was subsequently killed by the cadres of the PLFI, a break away faction of the CPI-Maoist in Gumla District.

The Police recovered a bag with 20 to 25 kilograms of explosives from a tunnel in Bokaro District of Jharkhand.

Manoj Mahto (24), a youth with links to several LWE factions was picked by a group of unidentified men from his home at Kedli around 30km from Ranchi and shot dead.

Jharkhand DGP G S Rath addressing at a press conference, in Hazaribagh District said, "Though Maoist activities are contained, more has to be done as they are waiting to strike if there is any negligence. He also asked all the District Police Chiefs to remain on vigil and thwart the CPI-Maoist from indulging in any violence.

DGP Rath said that the Maoists arrested with US-made weapon, Colt M-16 in Hazaribagh District on August 29, got it from the Myanmar route.

Five persons, including an area commander of PLFI, a break away faction of the CPI-Maoist, were arrested and their arms and ammunition seized from in two Police Station areas in Gumla District. The arrested 'area commander' was identified as Devpal Gope and two other associates of him are Basant Gope of Satpara Ghatta village and Bali Gope, a resident of Dhangaon Karamtoli village in town Police Station. Two country-made pistols, six cartridges and two pamphlets of PLFI were seized from their possession. Two persons Chhote Singh and Narayan Gope, both residents of Nathpur village, were arrested under Palkot Police Station in Gumla District. Both were involved in the killing of Kalawati Devi (39), zilla parishad member of the same village, led by 'area commander' Parmeshwar Gope on September 29.

The Jharkhand Government is planning to launch an all-out-war against PLFI, a break away faction of the CPI-Maoist, before Durga Puja in October. The operation against PLFI has been approved at a high level meet.

Three persons were abducted by suspected CPI-Maoist cadres in Laved village under Arki Police Station area in Khunti District. The Maoists have demanded that the Police hand over informers to them in return for freeing Surendra Munda (20), Kishore Munda (43) and Hind Munda (53).

Three Maoists started an indefinite hunger strike inside the Hazaribagh Central Jail to press for their two demands - shifting an ailing inmate to a Ranchi hospital and shifting back Maoist Rahul Munda, who was at Chaibasa Jail before being shifted to Hazaribagh, be sent back to the Chaibasa jail. Later on they called off their hunger strike when their demands were met.

Bhokta Neeraj Ganjhu, a 'zonal commander' of TPC, a break away faction of the CPI-Maoist, was arrested from Pelawal area in Hazaribagh District. Bhokta, a resident of Hurnali village in Chatra, was in charge of collecting levy in the Districts of Hazaribagh, Ramgarh, Chatra and Ranchi.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed P.C. Sharma (83), manager of a Jain trust in Giridih District, for sacking a married woman labourer of the trust indulging in an illicit relationship.

In Latehar District, in villages, including Garu, Mahuadanr and Netarhat, people are registering Police complaints against the Maoists in large numbers. "People were scared of Maoists and were hesitant to file a police complaint. But, now we have police support and other security support which has strengthened our faith in the policing system. This is why people are going to the police stations without any hesitation to register complaints," Suraj Dev Gupta, a villager, said.

Bhawnathpur Police arrested Naxal leader, identified as Sevak Ram alias Amarnath, a former 'area commander' the CPI-Maoist and the present member of underground squad of CPI-ML, during a raid at the Kaylan forest in Garhwa District. Police recovered a country-made rifle and 15 cartridges from him.

The Jharkhand Government launched an offensive against PLFI, a break away faction of the CPI-Maoist in Khunti, Simdega, and Gumla District. Battalions of CRPF, Jharkhand Jaguar and JAP reached Khunti, Simdega, and Gumla, the strongholds of the PLFI.

Three mobile handsets, five SIM cards, a transistor and a numbers of diaries containing contact numbers were recovered during a surprise raid by the Hazaribagh District and Police administration at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Central Jail. Sources said the team recovered two mobile phones- one from CPI-Maoist leader Narayan Sanyal (82) and the other from former sub-zonal commander of the outfit Sunil Ganjhu - both of who are lodged at high-security wards.

Suspected Naxalites set ablaze a bus in Gumla District. The driver and the helper, who were sleeping inside the vehicle, managed to escape.

Eight cadres of the CPI-Maoist, headed by politburo members Narayan Sanyal and Ravi Sharma, went on an indefinite strike to protest against the raid in the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Central Jail in Hazaribagh District on October 9.

Police arrested a Maoist sub-zonal 'commander' from his residence in Palamau District of Jharkhand. Bhuiyan had also been named main accused in the December 8, 2011 attack on Chatra MP Inder Singh Namdhari in which a number of CRPF had been killed.

Four cadres of the PLFI, a splinter group of the CPI-Maoist were arrested during a joint operation by the District Police and CRPF's CoBRA in Ranchi District. Three rifles and two pistols were recovered when a Maoist training camp was busted atop Soparan hill under Namkum Police Station area.

The Jharkhand Government plans to recruit surrendered CPI-Maoist cadres in the State Police. Jharkhand IG and Police spokesperson S N Pradhan said the Government is working on the amendment to ensure better rehabilitation of surrendered rebels.

The State Police and CRPF launched a fresh offensive against the CPI-Maoist in Chatra and Palamau Districts of Jharkhand, after calls from Bihar to fight the Maoists together following landmine blast in Gaya District on October 18, that claimed six CRPF troopers. Sources said 10 companies of the joint forces have been deployed in the operation in Chatra and Palamau, which share borders with Gaya.

Two persons identified as Rajdev Kherwar and Lakshan Lohra were killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres in a Maoist Jan Adalat held in Gumla District of Jharkhand, on being found to have stolen goats. Maoists went to Jori, Banalat Jaritaand and Kaththokwa villages and held Jan Adalats to deliver justice. They brutally assaulted 13 persons who were accused of being Police informers, of whom two of them sustained serious injuries.

A hardcore CPI-Maoist cadre, Tulsi Mahto, was arrested from Chakulia area of Ghatsila sub-division in East Singhbhum District.

The CPI-Maoist issue diktats saying those who do not heed them get either their hands chopped off, or limbs amputated or even have their throats slit. The Maoists are calling all the villagers of the state, hold public meetings or kangaroo court and are announcing the punishment.

The woman, Sanjhali Devi alias Churki, wife of one Sirka Majhi of Jobhitola Taratand area under Nimiyaghat Police Station in Giridih District was arrested for her involvement in the killing P.C. Sharma (83), manager of a Jain trust on October 7.

The Police arrested 'sub zonal commander' Surya Don and 'area commander' Seyan Topno of the People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), a break away faction of the CPI-Maoist, after an encounter at Orga under Jaldega Police Station in Simdega District. 12 rifles, including an US make, were recovered from their possession.

A 'sub-zonal commander' of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Biren Munda alias Maheshji, was arrested from Angara area under Bundu Police Station in Ranchi District. The Police also recovered landmines and other explosives during the raids.

The Police arrested two suspected CPI-Maoist couriers, identified as Mumtaz Ansari (26) and Samuel Oriya (20), carrying explosives, on the road between Rankadih and Podakocha under Chowka Police Station area in Seraikela-Kharswan District of Jharkhand. As many as 70 black uniforms, 40 detonators, 15m-long wire meant for Improvised Explosive Device (IED), a 12 volt battery, a DVD player and five mobile phones were recovered from the spot.

The SF personnel recovered posters pasted by the Maoists appealing to the people to unite against the "pro-corporate government" and anti-naxal Operation Green Hunt. The posters were pasted at Nakti, Kankua, Pongra, Kansra villages under Karaikela Police Station and Anandpur in West Singhbhum District, said Police.

Two workers of a contractor were assaulted by about 50-60 Maoists at Kurun village in Bhandaria area in Garhwa District of Jharkhand, for not complying the Maoists' diktat to stop construction of a bridge over the Saphi River.

Maoists have resorted to poster campaign in Bandgaon and Anandpur blocks in West Singhbhum District warning the top leaders of the State Government including Chief Minister Arjun Munda to take immediate steps administrative corruption.

The Police fired 90 rounds during an hour-long encounter in the forests of Prem Nagar located at Bishrampur village under Ranka Police Station in Garhwa District and recovered a five kilogram IED and 20 detonators. The recovery also included Maoist literature, documents, pittu (back pack), used cartridges, cooking utensils and a letter addressed to the Jharkhand legislators demanding an end to all the operations in the state against the Maoists.

The CPI-Maoist criticized its breakaway faction TPC for violating 'ceasefire' norms and for frequently attacking its cadres and their family members. 'Spokesperson' for the Bihar-Jharkhand North Chhattisgarh frontier regional committee of the CPI-Maoist, Manas, said despite responding to their call for "unilateral ceasefire", the TPC has been attacking their cadres and their family members almost regularly. The Maoists had extended a call for unilateral ceasefire with the splinter groups on June 26 for three months. The call was responded by the TPC. A woman was sexually tortured by a Maoist 'zonal commander' for more than five years and she allowed it in order to save her husband. The victim's husband is a Police officer. Salomi approached Police with her son and said that she was staying with the Maoists to save her husband and his brothers who are Policemen.

The Maoists have launched recruitment drive in bordering areas of Garhwa and Latehar Districts. They have launched the drive in Bargarh, Madhgarhi, Marda, Tiharo, Binda villages in Bhandaria block in Garhwa District. Their activities have also been reported from Baligarh, Birajpur and Tetardih villages of the adjacent Ramkanda Police Station area. The recruitment drive has been launched under the leadership of Vikasji, a senior Maoist leader to counter Operation Green Hunt against them.

Cadres of the PLFI, a break away faction of the CPI-Maoist killed Ranjit Dungdung, deputy sarpanch in the Rampur village in Gumla District of Jharkhand.

An encounter broke out between SFs and the CPI-Maoist cadres at Sirinya village under Hariharganj Police Station in Palamu District, following a tip-off that about 25 Maoists, including three 'sub-zonal commanders' had assembled near the village. A Maoist identified as Raj Kumar (35) of Japla village surrendered with his weapon. An American gun, carbine, a 303 bore rifle, a pistol and two 315 bore guns with 250 live cartridges, cell phones and other objects were recovered after the encounter.

Two villagers were killed by the CPI-Maoist cadres in separate incidents in Gumla District. Zuber Ansari was shot dead by the Maoists at Jairagi village in the District while Florence Tirkey was killed at Poretoli village.

The Maoists targeted and killed a farmer, identified as Sitaram Khaiya, in Raidih village in Gumla District.

A cadre of CPI-Maoist, identified as Birendra Singh Kharwar, was arrested and four guns were recovered during anti-naxal operation in the Baharaha forests in Garhwa District. Four guns and 31 bullets were seized during the operation.

Police investigations in the recent seizure of foreign-made weapons, including the American M16 rifles and Pakistani cartridges, have revealed that the arms and ammunition are coming to the State through dealers in Bihar. All the weapons and ammunition recovered from Maoists in Palamu, Hazaribagh and Simdega reached the State via Bihar. Jharkhand Police spokesman, IG, S N Pradhan said, these weapons were once used by militants active in Northeastern States, and with the violence now receding, the insurgents do not want to keep these weapons with them anymore. The militants are only keeping the most advanced weapons as they have no use of these arms anymore. Pradhan said that according to information with the Police, the rebels are buying these M16 rifles for around INR 150,000 to INR 200,000 per piece. Against this, an AK47 costs around INR 400,000 to INR 500,000.

The day-long Ranchi District bandh, called by PLFI, a break away faction of the CPI-Maoist, in support of tribals who have been opposing forceful acquisition of agricultural land in Nagri, got mixed response. Suspected PLFI rebels tried to set ablaze a truck in Lalgutuwa locality in the evening. No effect of the bandh was witnessed in urban Ranchi.

Three Policemen and a prisoner were killed when about 100 armed CPI-Maoist cadres, including women cadres, attacked a Police van carrying 32 prisoners from Giridih court to the divisional jail at Mahadev Chauk in Giridih District. The Maoists succeeded in freeing eight of their comrades from the prison van. One prisoner, Sanjay Mahto, who refused to alight from the van, was gunned down by the Maoists. DGP, G S Rath confirmed that three Policemen including ASI Prabhu Nath Singh, Constable Raj Kumar Das, driver Sadanand Gagarai, lost their lives while six Policemen and three prisoners were injured in the attack. The Maoists triggered blasts on a truck to disrupt traffic and hurled bombs on the Police van. The eight Maoists who escaped after the attack have been identified as Baijnath Tiwari, Mithilesh Mandal, Nemchand Mahto, Sahdeo Soren, Chotaka Marandi, Bipin Mandal, Pantosh Hembrom and Rampravesh alias Ramesh Mandal. Four prisoners Ramesh Mandal, Surendra Hajra, Arjun Yadav and Babloo alias Sanjay Verma returned to the jail on their own.

Two of the eight CPI-Maoist cadres, who fled while being taken from court to jail after the Maoists fired on a transit van in Giridih town on November 9, have been found. While one of the Maoists returned on his own, another was found admitted to a nursing home. Three of the ten weapons looted during the attack which left three policemen and a prisoner dead, were also recovered.

DGP G S Rath admitted that most of the planning of the attack was done at Jamui in Bihar. The DGP said one Sahdeo Majhi who hails from Bishungarh area of Hazaribagh District may have played important role in collecting information about the movement of prisoner vehicle. At present, Majhi is a member of Bihar-Jharkhand Special Area Committee.

Cadres of PLFI shot dead one of their own cadres, identified as Etwa Munda, at Nachal Dag under Namkum Police Station area of Ranchi District.

The PLFI cadres killed another person, identified as James Kullu, in Kolebira area of Simdega District.

Saryu Yadav, president of BJP's Simdega block committee, was shot dead by suspected cadres of the PLFI, a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist, at his house in Banihara village under sadar Police Station. Wife of the BJP leader Kamla Devi also sustained bullet injuries when she tried to come to his rescue.

Suspected Maoists dragged out one Narayan Munda from his house at Barihada under Arki Police Station of Khunti District and killed him, charging him of acting as a Police informer.

At Seramdih village under Khunti Police Station, para-teacher Wiliam Nag was killed in an identical manner.

Suspected PLFI cadres killed a villager, identified as Laldhari Ohdar, at Kurum fair under Kamdara Police Station, around 60 km from Gumla District headquarters.

A group of CPI-Maoist cadres beat up two women and put a lock on their house after they failed to find a male member of their family, identified as Rampyare Sao, a local BJP worker, at Bhaugadi-Patratu in Latehar District of Jharkhand, police said.

A PLFI cadre, wanted in several cases in Khunti District, identified as Saroj Guria alias Anmol, was arrested from Ranchi Sadar area.

Six fugitive CPI-Maoist cadres who had escaped on November 11 following an attack on the transit van claiming the lives of four Policemen in Giridih town of Jharkhand, if surrender would not be charged with hatching the plot, a top police official said.

It has been learnt that two persons arrested for allegedly killing a 65-year-old man in Lapung area in Ranchi District in Jharkhand had links with PLFI ‘area commander’ Suber Singh alias Surya.

The Seraikela-Kharswan District Police arrested two suspected CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Parakshit Mahato (31) and Sadaquat Ali alias Abdul Gaffar (34), from Gurma village under Ichagarh Police Station area of Jharkhand.

Para-military Forces arrested a 23-year-old "Sub-zonal Commander" of CPI-Maoist, identified as Prabhu Yadav, at Madhya village of Palamau District in Jharkhand, when he came to meet his family. Later Yadav guided the Police to two places under Manatu Police Station where the SFs found a five kg IED, seven gelatin sticks, 25 detonators and a 100-mt wire. A country-made pistol and Maoist literature was also seized from the extremist. Commenting on the arrest District Police official said "Yadav had killed three persons of rival extremist factions this year - two members of the JLT on April 16 and one JPC member on May 22."

Pawan Gope, a cadre of PLFI was arrested from Doranda in Ranchi city of Jharkhand. A pistol and live cartridges were seized from Gope.

Two and a half years after the Jnaneswari Express tragedy, superfast trains will once again ply at their normal speed between Kharagpur and Rourkela on the Howrah-Mumbai mainline at night, bringing down travelling time by 45 minutes on the stretch.

With CPI-Maoist cadres regrouping in Saranda forest region of West Singhbhum District in Jharkhand, as they used to do every winter, the SFs personnel this time are taking the help of an UAV "Netra" to track their movements.

CPI-Maoist politburo member Sushil Roy was granted bail by Jharkhand High Court as  Roy's kin had met UMHA Sushil Kumar Shinde around a fortnight ago, seeking amnesty on his behalf on account of his terminal illness and old age.

Maoist posters were found pasted at Birbandha village under the Sadar Police Station area in Garhwa District. The Maoist's posters which were in the form of letter containing three paragraphs and released by Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand Special Area Committee appealed to all state legislators to extend cooperation to end the ongoing Operation Green Hunt against the outfit.

A Maoist ‘area commander’ identified as Mukhlal Yadav, was arrested in Garhwa District.

JAP will gradually replace CAPF deployed in various CPI-Maoist-prone areas in the State. K S Meena, ADG, JAP, said JAP personnel are being provided special training so that they can replace CRPF and assist State Police in anti-Maoist operation and other tasks related to maintenance of law and order.

Two persons, identified as Krishna Sahu (35) and Arun Sahu (20), both marginal farmers, were killed by cadres of PLFI at Hulsu village under Lapung Police Station in Ranchi District.

Maoists set ablaze six heavy vehicles, including a road-roller and dumper, involved in the road construction work under Saranda Action Plan (SAP) in Chota Nagra Police Station area in West Singhbhum District.

 A villager, identified as Dasrath Malhar, was killed in crossfire between the CPI-Maoist and SFs in Bhalmara forest of Upperghat area under Nawadih Police Station in Bokaro District. 

Pelawal Police arrested three persons identified as Arun Ganjhu alias Ramavtar Ganjhu from Chordaha forest of Simaria, Jasgdish Ganjhu of Siladag and Gyan Kumar Bhogta of Jehra village of Pathalgada in Chatra and recovered three revolvers and 10 cartridges from them in Hazaribagh District.

During a combing operation, Police seized a cache of arms, including two rocket launchers, more than a dozen grenades and 5,000 bullets and live cartridges, of the CPI-Maoist from a forest in Ramgarh District.

Cadres of CPI-Maoist killed three members of the JPC, a breakaway faction of CPI-Maoist, in a gun-battle in Palamau District. The dead bodies of the trio identified as Babulal Bhuiyan alias Avinash, the local JPC 'zonal commander', and 'area commanders' Pradip Bhuiyan alias Prashant and Butan alias Vikram, were recovered the next day, from a dense forest near Tal village under Panki Police Station in the District.

The State Government has come up with a mega development action plan concentrating on two Red Zones of Bokaro District, 80 villages of Jhumra and 39 villages of Upperghat, with a budget of INR 5.5 billion.

The cadres of PLFI, a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist, killed a woman identified as Jiten Devi (48), and manhandled her two daughters, accusing them of being Police informers at Kombakera Devatoli under Koelibera Police Station in Simdega District.

30 to 35 Maoist cadres attacked the office of a private company involved in road construction work and set ablaze eight vehicles including dumpers and tractors of the company near Jamni village in Dumka District.

Top Maoist Shivnandan Sahu and his three associates, including a woman cadre identified as Seema Kumari, were arrested from the Senha forest area in Lohardaga District.

Police recovered banners put up by Maoists on the roadside of Pilpilo forest under Bokaro Thermal Police Station in Bermo sub-division in Bokaro District.

Cadres of the PLFI, a break-away faction of the CPI-Maoist, killed two villagers identified as Samnichar Khadia (35) and his nephew Chaitu Khadia (30) at Kulbir-Ambatoli Village in Gumla District. The Sanjay Tiger group of PLFI is suspected to be involved in the killing, a Police officer added.

Huge quantities of explosives were recovered from the premises of an ancient building in Musaboni block of Ghatshila sub-division in East Singhbhum District.

Chowka Police recovered anti-Maoist operation posters from the market area in Seraikela-Kharswan District.

The CPI-Maoist in Jharkhand, through posters put up in two districts, Ranchi and Khunti, during Martyrs' Week, has urged the youth not to support the Police and join their ranks. They warned the youth to either support them or else incur their wrath.

Suspected cadres of the PLFI, a break-away faction of the CPI-Maoist killed Sambal Pradhan (52), the secretary of BJP's Khunti District committee, near a weekly market in Sondari village under Torpa police station. The PLFI cadres also set ablaze two vehicles parked in the vicinity.

Three CPI-Maoist cadres, identified as Dinesh Rai alias Babu, Shashi Murmu and Deewan Marandi alias Yadav, involved in setting ablaze about a dozen vehicles belonging to a road construction company were arrested in Dumka District.

With the success of the anti-Naxal operation 'Anaconda 1' [which began on July 31, 2011 and continued till September 2011] in the dense Saranda forest areas of West Singhbhum District, the SF have launched a fresh offensive titled 'Anaconda 2' in the Saranda forest areas.

Four cadres of the PLFI, a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist, were arrested during a raid in Koelibera and Bano Police Station areas under Koelibera Block in Simdega District.

Panchayat representatives in Jharkhand are on the target list of Maoists as a number of them are alleged sympathisers of different rebel outfits or involved in liasoning.

The Ranchi District Police of Jharkhand along with CRPF and other SF arrested 59 Naxals so far in 2012.

A cadre of the PLFI, a breakaway faction of the CPI-Maoist, identified as Alwan Murmu, was arrested after an encounter with SF personnel at Katinkel forest under Murhu Police Station in Khunti District.

Maoists set ablaze about a dozen of vehicles belonging to a construction company at Deruwan village in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand.

Maoists, set ablaze portions of an under-construction house of a fellow zonal 'commander', identified as Phoolchand Soren alias Prabeel Majhi, currently in Police custody in Bokaro District of Jharkhand.

Jharkhand Police acquired advanced 3D mapping software which would help them track and chase the CPI-Maoist cadres.

Police arrested two LWEs belonging to JSJM, from Patratu town of Ramgarh District, and recovered two 9mm bullets and a pistol from them.

A CPI-Maoist squad killed one of their former comrades at Chhipadohar market under Barwadih Police Station in Latehar District, after branding him as Police informer.

The Jharkhand Government decided to give INR 1,500 allowance to surrendered LWEs till they get a plot to construct house as per the State's 2010 surrender policy.

Barring incidents of set ablaze of vehicles, Maoist activities have been contained to a large extent in Jharkhand, DGP G S Rath said in Jamshedpur.

The CPI-Maoist cadres and the Police exchanged fire at Ghurabandha in Ghatshila Sub-Division of East Singhbhum District.

The CPI-Maoist cadres killed a villager in Gumla District.

A suspected 'area commander' of the PLFI, identified as Ajit Sahu, was killed by a mob when he had gone to collect 'levy' at Renghari Mundatoli under Thetaitanger Police Station in Simdega District.

The CPI-Maoist cadres set ablaze two earthmovers at Chapalsi village under Bhandaria Police Station in Garhwa District.

The Paramilitary Forces are contemplating to install CCTV cameras in West Singhbhum forest area to strengthen their offensive against the CPI-Maoist in Saranda forest.

The Railway Authorities announced precautionary measures to prevent any untoward incident which may arise because of the 24-hour bandh, with effect from December 3, called by the CPI-Maoist in the Saranda forests of West Singhbhum District.

Despite securing bail, Maoist leader Narayan Sanyal (82), who has been lodged in the Jai Prakash Narayan Central Jail in Hazaribag for the past three years, will have to remain in custody for an indefinite period because the Government has booked him under the National Security Act (NSA) on the recommendations of the Hazaribag District administration.

A woman CPI-Maoist cadre who was allegedly raped and sexually exploited by her party cadres was rescued by Police in Latehar District. The rescued woman belongs to Bihar's Chhapra District, and many cases are registered against her. Latehar Superintendent of Police (SP) said the woman was abducted by the Maoists and was forced to be a part of their group for the last six months. The arrested woman cadre said that two to three more women cadres have been forced to stay with the Maoists.