Patna, Aug. 7: In a bid to counter the frequent attacks of Maoists on the family members of rebels surrendering before police and instill confidence in their mind, the security personnel of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh have launched Operation Vishwas (confidence).

Led by Rohtas superintendent of police (SP) Manu Maharaj, the police personnel today launched Operation Vishwas in the state conducting house-to-house search operations at Dhansa valley in Rohtas district, considered a den of the Maoists and inaccessible for the security forces. The security personnel also raided Budhwalaka village, where the rebels had held some journalists captive while they were going to Banda village under Nauhatta police station on motorcycles after the killing of three persons by the Maoists.

“The operation has been meticulously planned. It is being carried out by the trained personnel of the Special Task Force, central paramilitary force, Bihar Military Police and Combat Battalion for Resolute Action,” Maharaj said.

For the first time, the police units of the three states have started an operation against the Maoists with the assistance of helicopter in the dense forests of Kaimur and Rohtas districts in Bihar, Palamu in Jharkhand and Robertsganj district in Uttar Pradesh, he added.

Inspector-general (Patna zone) Bhrigu Srinivasan and deputy inspector-general (Shahabad range) Sushil Khopde are monitoring the drive against the Naxalites in Kaimur-Rohtas region. IG (operations) K.S. Dwivedi reviewed the strategy of the joint operation to be conducted twice every month in each of the three states.

“The purpose of the operation is to instill a sense of confidence among the people, particularly tribals, who have fled their homes and taken shelter at the government-run camps in Rohtas district,” the SP said, adding that the operation was launched after consultation with the senior police officers of the three states.

Farmers abducted

Hours before the Operation Vishwas was launched in the state, suspected armed guerrillas of the outlawed CPI(Maoist) kidnapped two farmers from Pipradih village under Nauhatta police station in Rohtas district late on Saturday night.

Around 24 armed squad members descended on the houses of Dashrath Kharwar and Brij Bihari Kharwar around 11pm and held both the villagers captive at gunpoint.