Major Maoist plot foiled in Jharkhand’s Dalma, Arms cache recovered after arrest of wanted ultras

Security forces have arrested three wanted Maoists and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharsawan district, foiling an alleged attempt by the banned outfit to revive its network in the Dalma forest region, police said on Thursday.

Seraikela-Kharsawan Superintendent of Police Manoj Swargiyari said the operation exposed an alleged plan by the CPI-Maoist to regain a foothold in the Dalma hills after coming under sustained pressure from security forces in the Saranda forest area.

The recovery included an INSAS rifle allegedly looted from the police, a large quantity of live AKM-47 ammunition, a 9 mm pistol, magazines, walkie-talkies, codex wire, a motorcycle and other materials.

According to the SP, police received intelligence on August 4 that active CPI-Maoist members were hiding in Udaipur village under Kandra police station limits. Acting on the information, a joint team comprising district police personnel, the 203 CoBRA battalion, the 134th CRPF battalion and the 26th SSB battalion launched an operation in the area.

During the operation, security personnel arrested sub-zonal committee member Ravi Singh Sardar, alias Sagar Singh. Police said he was carrying a loaded AKM-47 rifle, ammunition and a walkie-talkie.

Based on information allegedly provided by him, the security forces subsequently arrested regional committee member Madan Mahato, who carried a reward of Rs 15 lakh, and sub-zonal commander Meena Paharia, alias Nepu Paharia, who carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh. Police said Paharia is the wife of Ravi Singh Sardar.

Investigators claimed that the arrested Maoists told them they had previously been active in the Dalma region. According to police, intensified security operations in Saranda prompted the outfit to attempt to revive its activities in Dalma and rebuild its operational network there.

Police also alleged that the three accused were involved in several Maoist incidents in the Dalma region, including the killing of policemen in Kukru and the looting of weapons. These allegations have not been independently verified.

The SP said the operation was significant not only because of the arrests and recovery of weapons but also because it provided information about the alleged organisational strategy and operational plans of the Maoists in the Dalma belt.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Arms Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Criminal Law Amendment Act and Explosive Substances Act.

Further investigation is underway.

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