COBRA battalion in Rohtas. Picture by Sanjay Choudhary

Patna, Nov. 26: Police fear that the Maoists might target the COBRA battalion personnel and their headquarters in Gaya to avenge the killing of senior Maoist leader Koteshwar Rao, alias Kishan, in Bengal.

A joint force of CRPF, COBRA, the Counter Insurgency Force and Bengal police had gunned the Maoist leader during an encounter in West Midnapore’s Burishole forest on Thursday,

Follwong this, the Bihar police headquarters has sounded an alert in the Maoist-hit districts on the basis of intelligence inputs that the rebels might target the headquarters of COBRA battalion. Magadh range deputy inspector-general (DIG) of police Nayyar Hasnain Khan today said strict vigil was being maintained in areas falling under Barachatti police station in Gaya district.

“Though the entire Barachatti area is sensitive, we are keeping a watch on the Maoists’ activities in the vicinity of the COBRA battalion’s headquarters,” he added.

The DIG said instructions had been issued to the superintendents of police in Gaya, Aurangabad and Nawada districts sharing border with Jharkhand, to step up survei-llance in areas regarded Maoist stronghold.

“Since these districts are close to the Jharkhand border, the Maoists have set up their bases there and keep on moving from one place to another taking advantage of the region’s topography,” a senior police officer associated with anti-Naxalite operations said.

He added that co-ordination between police officers of Bihar and Jharkhand has been strengthened in the past few years.

“We share information on a regular basis and also extend support to each other during operations against the Naxalites,” the officer said.

COBRA battalion, an exclusive force carved out of CRPF to fight the Maoists, has its headquarters at Barachatti in Gaya district, once considered an epicentre of Maoist activities in central Bihar. Several units of the COBRA battalion have been deployed in Gaya, Aurangabad and Rohtas to launch special operations against the rebels.

Areas under Chutia police station in Rohtas district have of late become safe havens for some senior leaders of the banned outfit. “Chutia is the tri-junction of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. Chhat-tisgarh is also close to the area,” the officer said.