Kolkata/Ranchi, 26 July 2010: Security forces tasted success in the fight against the Naxals, Monday, as six Naxals were killed after a night-long encounter in the dense forests of West Midnapore district. An encounter is also currently on between the forces and the ultras in Jharkhand. In, Midnapore, acting on a specific intelligence, a joint-team of the CRPF and special anti-Naxal force SAF went into the operation in the dense forests under Golatore police station last night.
Six bodies, including that of a woman cadre, were found from the site of the encounter which ended in the wee hours today, they said, adding twelve weapons, including SLRs and INSAS rifles, were also recovered. According to initial reports, one of the six dead is suspected to be Siddhu Soren, a top Naxal commander in of the state. A CRPF jawan also lost his life in the gunbattle, he has been identified as constable Ashish Tiwari.
Jharkhand encounter
A fierce encounter is on since yesterday night between the security forces and Maoists in the forests on the borders of Ranchi and Khunti district in Jharkhand. The encounter has been going on for the last several hours but the details are yet to be received, the police sources said here.
The forces from the state police, CRPF and the anti-Naxal Jaguar Force has been in action against Maoists in the forests near Bundu, about 40 km from here. A hardcore Maoist, Kundan Pahan, who has been the thorn in the anti-Naxal operation in this region, has been the main leader of CPI (Maoist) in Khunti area where Bundu falls.
Pahan is accused of masterminding the beheading of Special branch officer Francis Induwar in October last year. Meanwhile, DGP control room ASI, R C Ram said the control room has no such information that the security forces have busted a Naxal camp during the encounter.