Daltonganj, April 24: The death of local Sunlight Sena kingpin Bikau Dixit in a recent police encounter has prompted the People’s War to step up its activities in Bhadua and adjoining villages of the districts.

The rebels are said to be on a “combing operation” to stamp out the last remnants of the Sunlight Sena, an outfit that began as a private army of Rajput landlords but later became a motley band of criminals.

Intelligence sources admitted that the People’s War’s activities in the region, especially in the Malvaria, Bhadua, Semri and Satbahini villages under Vishrampur police station, have gone up.

Bikau Dixit and four of his associates were shot dead by police in an encounter on April 4. A sizeable cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the group. Villagers said that after Dixit’s departure, they are leading a “heavenly” life.

“He was a cruel criminal and used to unleash atrocities on villagers at will. The Naxalite outfits were not able to take on his band. He was an accused in over 22 criminal cases at Vishrampur police station itself,” a villager said.

Intelligence sources said the burst of rebel activity is a bad sign for the dwindling number of supporters of the Sunlight Sena. “The Naxalites are on the prowl for such sympathisers. We do not rule out the killing of some Sunlight Sena supporters by the extremists in the near future,” the sources added.

Sources said People’s War cadre held a meeting last week in the jungles near Vishrampur police station where a list of police informers was said to be have been prepared.

The Sunlight Sena came to the fore in the Palamau district in 1980 as a counter to the rising influence of the Naxalite outfits.

The extremists were then operating under the banner of CPI-ML (Party Unity). The outfit later merged with People’s War and developed an affinity with the Maoist Communist Centre as well.

In 1985, the Naxalites killed in Hussainabad. Krishna Singh, a leader of Kisan Mazdoor Sangarsh Samiti. The Sunlight Sena emerged as a reaction to the murder and even some government officials were said to be instrumental in its formation.

It was initially led by Jageshwar Singh. The Naxalites managed to kill Jageshwar Singh. The Sunlight Sena retaliated by mowing down 10 people, including women, at Malwaria village of the district in 1991.

Sunlight Sena reigned supreme and unleashed a terror till 1997 after which many of its leaders and supporters were killed. This weakened the private army.

In 1997, Shailendra Singh, supported by Bikau Dixit and Jeetan Singh, took charge of the Sunlight Sena and started countering the Naxalites.

But Shailendra Singh was murdered as well, allegedly by Bikau Dixit, who also managed to kill Jeetan Singh.

This paved the way for Dixit to take charge of the withering Sunlight Sena.