Terror cadets

June 15: A reprimand from the home ministry has prompted the state police to launch a concerted operation against Naxalites in Lakhisarai, Jamui, Munger and Banka districts of east Bihar.

After the attack on the Darbhanga-Patna Intercity Express near Kundar Halt in Lakhisarai district on Thursday afternoon, the state police headquarters has deployed six additional companies of Central Reserve Police Force and two companies of special task force in the Lakhisarai-Jamui region.

Inspector-general of police (operations) Amit Kumar today said the security forces would be used in a special drive against Maoists operating in the four districts.

But even as security forces are chalking out plans to check the rebels, suspected Naxalites demolished a middle school at Maheshwari Bhulsumia village of Jamui district’s Sono block last night.

Jamui superintendent of police Deepak Burnawal said: “According to the information provided by the villagers, around 35 Naxalites used powerful explosives to demolish the building of the upgraded government middle school at Bhulsumia.”

While two classrooms were completely destroyed, two others have been partially damaged. The rebels, however, did not damage the new two-storeyed school building, coming up beside the old one.

Burnawal said the rebels had the advantage of topography in the hilly region but the police were also determined to stop them.

“A base camp of security forces is coming up at Bhimbandh on the border of Munger and Jamui districts for surveillance on the activities of the Maoists,” said Kumar, who is camping in Jamui in the wake of the train attack.

He added that one battalion of the Sashastra Seema Bal has also been allocated to the state for the operations against the rebels. “The personnel of the SSB battalion are at present undergoing training. Once they return, they would be engaged in anti-Naxalite operations.”

Kumar said the police would have to change their strategy in eastern Bihar to contain the activities of the Naxalites. “We have been able to contain their activities to a great extent after setting up base camps in Gaya and Aurangabad districts. But the situation in Lakhisarai, Munger, Banka and Jamui is different,” he said.