Ranchi, March 21: Security forces busted a PLFI camp inside a forest in Bano of Simdega district following a gun battle with a rebel squad apparently led by the outfit's chief Dinesh Gope this morning, which led to the recovery of a huge cache of arms, ammunition and items of daily use.
Police said around 100 rounds of bullets were exchanged between the two sides during the encounter that broke out around 9.30am atop a hillock in Marikel forests, 95km from Simdega district town and 215km from Ranchi.
No casualty or injury was reported from any side with the rebels fleeing deep inside the jungles to escape police onslaught, leaving behind three rifles, live cartridges, mobile phones, medicines, backpacks and items of daily use. Ladies garments and purse were also found at the spot, suggesting presence of woman rebels.
Subsequently, the forces launched an intensive search operation in the area, which was going on till the filing of this report in the evening. "There were around 15 rebels in the squad. Some of them might have sustained injuries or have been killed in the firing. However, we have not been able to gather substantial evidence as yet. But, we have uprooted their camp," Simdega SP Rajeev Ranjan Singh told The Telegraph over telephone from the incident spot. "All my boys are safe," he added.
Sources said the SP received a tip-off last night on the movement of PLFI chief Dinesh Gope and his close aides, who were apparently camping atop a hillock in Marikel forests. Immediately, a strike team, comprising state police personnel and CRPF jawans, was rushed to the jungle to corner the rebels from different sides.
"The encounter began around 9.30am and continued for 15-20 minutes. However, it took another three hours for us to sanitize the area amid intermittent firing. Our boys are chasing them into the deep forests," the SP added.
On the presence of women rebels in the squad, he said exploitation of women by PLFI rebels was rampant. "They recruit women for cooking meals, washing clothes and also fulfilling their sexual desires. They have no respect for their women comrades. This is another reason why their traditional support base in remote areas is depleting steadily," he added.
On March 16, PLFI rebels had shot dead four persons engaged in a road project in Basia area of adjoining Gumla district.
The Gumla police are now preparing to set up a picket near the incident spot to instil a sense of security among the villagers and to restart the construction work, which has been on hold since the incident last week.
