The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is gearing up to launch an anti-Naxal [Left Wing Extremism, LWE] operation in Jharkhand, especially in areas prone to attacks by the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres, before the onset of monsoon, reports The Times of India. The CRPF Inspector General (IG) Raj Kumar said, “In a meeting on June 2, we talked about the impending anti-Naxal operation. Since the movement of Security Forces (SFs) gets hindered after the onset of monsoon, we are planning to carry out the operation during the ongoing summer season. We will either trap or flush out the extremists.”
On June 3, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (UMHA) reviewed the extremist situation in Jharkhand through video-conferencing. As per the sources, the operation is likely in the sensitive Districts like Lohardaga, Giridih, Koderma, and Chatra, among others, in coordination with the Bihar Police. In Lohardaga, frequent movements of Maoist leader, Ravinder Ganjhu have been reported while Maoist’s ‘central committee member’ Misir Besra is known to be active in the Kolhan region. Parasnath Hills is also on the CRPF’s radar for carrying out the operation, the sources added.
Meanwhile, after the West Singhbhum Police intensified its operations against the CPI-Maoist and its splinter group, People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI), residents of hamlets near Saranda forest on June 5 demanded Police protection fearing a backlash from the outfits, reports The Times of India. A delegation of various Left-wing extremism-affected villages submitted a written demand to Keraikela Police for security arrangements.