At the end of a long-drawn encounter between security forces and suspected Maoists in West Bengal's Bhalukbasha forest on Saturday, the body of a rebel has been recovered. The police believe there could be more losses among the rebels.
Many persons have been detained from the area for questioning. Several firearms and a huge cache of ammunitions, improvised explosive devices, detonators, explosives and Maoist literature were recovered, the police said.
Paschim Medinipur Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Verma told The Hindu over telephone that the forces, acting on a tip-off, had launched a combing operation in the forest early in the day. “Our forces were fired upon by the Maoists and they retaliated. There were intermittent exchanges of fire throughout the day as the rebels tried to retreat and the forces gave them a chase. The gunfight stopped towards the evening.”
According to police sources, the rebel group was headed by Sidhu Soren, commander of the Sidhu Kanu Gana Militia — militant wing of the Maoist-backed Police Santrash Birodhi Janasadharaner Committee.
EFR jawans stage blockade
Meanwhile, family members of Eastern Frontier Rifles jawans staged an hour-long road blockade in front of the EFR base at Salua in the district in protest against the transfer of Additional Inspector-General Benoy Chakraborty.
