A file picture of a Jhumra patrol team

Bokaro, Oct. 5: Five days after special branch inspector Francis Indwa was abducted by suspected Maoists from Khunti district, a confidential report sent by the intelligence bureau in Bokaro to the Ranchi police headquarters suggests that he is being held captive in Jhumra, about 140km from Bokaro steel city.

Francis was kidnapped from a market, barely 500 metres from Arki in Khunti district, by about six unarmed rebels who posed as villagers.

Sources said that intelligence bureau sleuths suspect that Francis is being kept in one of the villages there because of intensified Maoist movement in the area over the past few days.

Several squads of Maoists, divided into groups of about 15 to 18, have been spotted in Beltharwa, Degagadha, Banchatra, Chatrochatti, Chatro and other small villages that are located on the foothills of Jhumra, besides the Uparghat area of Nawadih zone, sources added.

Besides, Maoist movement has also intensified in Gomia, Bokaro thermal, Bermo, Kasmar and Tenughat too.

In fact, the report of the intelligence bureau team says that top Maoist commanders such as Kishan Da and Navin Manjhi were seen in the Maoist belt of Bokaro during Durga Puja.

Another group headed by Kundan Pahan, who operates in Tamar, Khunti, Ranchi and Singhbhum, was seen in Jhumra and Nawadih zone of Bokaro after the police carried out a massive operation in Ranchi and Khunti to find out the kidnapped inspector.

Bokaro superintendent of police Laxman Singh confirmed this, saying that security personnel were ready for any eventuality and that a search operation had been launched with the help of CRPF.

Sources said that policemen, posted in the borders and Naxalite-affected areas of Bokaro district, have been asked to stay on alert, especially after sunset and to remain in constant touch with CRPF stationed at different areas.

Search operations have been intensified during daytime while policemen, who retire to their barracks inside the police stations after nightfall, have strengthened their posts so that they are not caught unawares in case of any surprise attack.

Talking to The Telegraph, commandant of 26th battalion of CRPF V.S. Sharma said: “It is true that intensified Naxalite movement has been witnessed in several places on Jhumra foothills. Kishan Da and Navin Majhi might also be present in the group. We have launched a search operation. But till now, the rebels have kept a safe distance from the CRPF camps and have never dared to enter into the firing range of para-military personnel.”

“It seems that following the police crackdown on Naxalites in Khunti and Ranchi after kidnap of the special branch inspector, Maoists have come out from their hide-outs there to take shelter in the hilly and forest region of Bokaro,” he added.

A source said that following the arrests of four to five Maoist politburo members from Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar, the outfit has become very weak. As such, the rebels were running here and there to save their lives with security forces on their trail.