Jharkhand approaches Bihar for joint anti-Maoist operations

Jharkhand has approached Bihar to launch joint operations against Maoist Guerrillas in border areas, a police official said on Friday.

The decision to launch joint operations was taken after Maoist guerrillas ambushed a police party, killing five policemen and two others at Kalapahari in Jharkhand’s Palamau district on Wednesday evening.

The banned Communist Party of India-Maoist had triggered landmine blast in which a mini-bus was blown up.

“We have approached Bihar to launch joint operation against Maoist guerrillas in bordering areas of Aurangabad district of Bihar and adjacent areas of the both states,” said Jharkhand’s Inspector General of Police (Operation) M.S. Bhatia said.

“In the landmine blast, CPI-Maoist zonal commander Niteshji played key role. He operates both in Bihar and Jharkhand. Only joint operation can curb his activities in the areas,” Mr Bhatia added.

He, however, refused to divulge details of the operation, including timing.

The CPI-Maoist has claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s incident, terming it as revenge for killing its men at Dibara in Bihar’s Aurangabad district.

Niteshji is active in Aurangabad district of Bihar and Palamau district of Jharkhand.

According to police sources, Maoists always take advantage of bordering areas. When operation is launched in Jharkhand, Maoist sneak into bordering states like Bihar, Odisha, Chhattisgarh or West Bengal.

Headed by Union Home Ministry security advisor K. Vijay Kumar, a meeting of top officials of the four states was held on January 22 in Ranchi.

“The meeting discussed the joint operation among the Maoist affected states. The Maoist guerrillas cross the border when operation is launched in one state. The states agreed to launch joint operation in bordering areas so that the Maoist menace could be ended in the bordering areas,” a police official said.

The home ministry’s security advisor suggested a three-pronged strategy to deal with the Maoist menace.