Special Task Force jawans enact a fight with criminals at Gandhi Maidan on Wednesday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, March 23: People were left awestruck after armed men attacked Gandhi Maidan. The men, apparently Naxalites, set their hideout right in the middle of Gandhi Maidan.

A team of state police’s Special Task Force (STF) came out and a fierce gun-battle ensued. Two of the five criminals were killed while the remaining were arrested. A huge amount of sophisticated arms and weapons were recovered.

The act was not a typical anti-Naxalite operation rather a show of strength of the state police, which displayed the skills of its elite STF engaged in combating the rebels and other criminals. The demonstration, a part of the Bihar Divas celebrations at the Gandhi Maidan, attracted a lot of crowd as the spec- tators cheered to the heavily armed camouflaged jawans performing a precise cordon and busting the criminals from their hideouts and then attacking them with full force.

At present there are 10 units of the STF operating in different districts of the state with the police headquarters planning to raise 10 more units.

Inspector-general of police (operations) K.S. Dwivedi said the force was always engaged in many exercises and the demonstration was to show the people about the modus operandi and the skills of the personnel.

“The men are always involved in many anti-Naxalite and anti-criminal operations and exercises. This is like an awareness programme. We want people to know about the method in which the force operates. With the Bihar Divas on, this could be said to be a participation of the state police in the mega event,” the top officer said.

Men posing as criminals were made to enter Gandhi Maidan and guard their hideouts until the STF jawans arrived at the scene and formed a perfect standard operating procedure in their bid to break their strength. The men first warned them and ordered them to surrender. Once they started firing, the men, organised a perfect attack, first surrounding them from all sides and then busting them out from their holes.

Police sources said such demonstrations would always be an eye-opener to the common man. “The idea is to make people know and understand about the operating procedures of the STF. It is a daring task and people should know about it,” said STF superintendent of police Mohammad Akhtar Hussain.

The event was a hit, especially among children. “It is an eye opener for me. I have never seen anything like this before. I will get myself enrolled in the armed forces when I grow up. I think this is the best profession in the world. It is exciting, risky and honourable at the same time,” said 15-year-old Wasim Mohammed.